Smooth Structure Research Articles

Tributyrin microcapsule prepared by ultrahigh methoxylated pectin combination with maltodextrin: The characterization, gastrointestinal digestion, and fecal fermentation behavior

A modified ultrahigh methoxylated pectin (UHMP, DM>90%) combined with maltodextrin was used to prepare tributyrin microcapsules. The encapsulation performance of microcapsules and their potential application in gut health were investigated in this study. Results showed that tributyrin was successfully encapsulated into the matrix of microcapsules, and there is no extensive chemical reaction occurred during encapsulation. The UHMP is conducive to the dispersion of tributyrin, while the maltodextrin as wall material promoted the formation of smooth surface structure of microcapsules. Microencapsulation is able to provide thermal protection for tributyrin, as reflected by the increased decomposition temperature and the decreased weight loss rate. In addition, microencapsulation effectively masks the unpleasant odor of tributyrin, resulting in a significantly reduced off-odor retention rate. During small intestinal digestion, the UHMP-stabilized tributyrin emulsions partly demulsified and led to the release of tributyrin, however, a significant higher tributyrin retention rate (88.1 ± 1.3%) was observed in UHMP-stabilized tributyrin emulsions when compared with the blank group (60.1 ± 4.6%). Through in vitro fecal fermentation, it was found that UHMP-stabilized tributyrin emulsions can regulate bacterial community by stimulating the growth of probiotics (e.g. Lachnospira, Phascolarctobacterium, and Parabacteroides) and decreasing the relative abundances of harmful microbes (e.g. Klebsiella and Fusobacterium). Furthermore, UHMP-stabilized tributyrin emulsions promote the production of SCFAs, especially, the content of butyric acid increased from 1.59 ± 0.32 mmol/L to 10.58 ± 1.89 mmol/L. The present study provides a feasible approach for the preparation of tributyrin microcapsule, which improves its application performance in gut health.

Effects of ultrasound-assisted cooking on the physicochemical properties and microstructure of pork meatballs

This research aims to investigate the effect of different ultrasonic powers cooking on the quality of pork meatballs. Pork meatballs treated with ultrasound-assisted cooking at 450 W had the most uniform and smooth structures displayed by scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, with increasing ultrasonic powers, the water retention capacity of pork meatballs first increased and then decreased, compared with the non-ultrasound group, when the ultrasonic power was 450 W, the cooking yield of pork meatballs increased from 82.55% to 92.87%, and the centrifugal loss decreased from 25.35% to 11.52%. Additionally, ultrasound-assisted cooking had a positive effect on the moisture migration, tenderness, and sensory property of pork meatballs, and 450 W sample exhibited the highest overall acceptability score (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the physicochemical properties and microstructure of pork meatballs could be improved by appropriate ultrasonic power, and ultrasonic technology was considered as an effective processing method for improving the quality of meat products.

Effects of carbon addition on the microstructure and mechanical property of in-situ reinforced TiAl matrix composite powders produced by plasma rotating electrode process

To investigate effects of carbon addition on microstructural characteristics of rapidly solidified TiAl alloys, Ti–43Al–6Nb-xC (x = 0,0.5,1.0 at.%) powders are produced by plasma rotating electrode process (PREP). Due to the greater viscosity of composite melts with carbides than those without carbides, the average sizes of carbon containing TiAl powders are much larger than theoretical average diameters. In addition, phase compositions of carbon-free TiAl powders usually consist of α phase and β phase, while α phase is predominant in carbon containing TiAl powders due to α-phase stabilizer. β→α phase transformation during the rapid solidification and Burgers relationships {110}β||(0001)α and <111>β||(11–20)α are illustrated in TiAl powders. Three types of microscopic structures are unfolded in TiAl composite powders: smooth structures, dendrite structures and equiaxed structures, which stem from various cooling rates. With carbon contents rising to 1.0 at.%, the average grain size in TiAl powders with the particle size range of 100∼150 μm is refined from 24.31 ± 0.38 μm to 11.32 ± 0.36 μm, moreover, the distribution ranges of particle sizes vary dramatically. Additionally, the micro-hardness of TiAl powders gradually upgrades as carbon contents ascend. The maximum micro-hardness of TiAl composite powders with 1.0 at.% carbon addition touches at 758.7 ± 15.4HV. Solid solution strengthening, refinement strengthening and second-phase strengthening are main sources for the ascent of micro-hardness.

Significant impact of melt-blend and hot-press technique operating condition on polyethylene/thermoplastic starch/aloe vera gel film properties

Melt-blend and hot-press techniques were among the most popular methods for producing polyethylene/thermoplastic starch (PE/TPS) polymer blends. However, different operating conditions contributed to the various quality of film made. Thus, this paper focuses on determining the most suitable operating conditions involving melt-blend and hot-press techniques on specific PE/TPS/aloe vera gel (AV) film formulations. Thus, this study determines the best operating condition for producing PE/TPS/AV blend. One-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) method was implemented under six operating conditions: different melt-blending temperatures, pre-heating, hot-pressing pressure, temperature and duration, and cooling application. The result demonstrated that the best melt-blending temperature was 170 °C, having the highest tensile strength (TS) performance. Pre-heating application reduced the thickness, which is suitable for applying single-used plastic and more economical than thicker film. Importantly, this study found the lowest pressure to obtain a smooth surface of film without stickiness during the peeling process from the steel plate after applying the hot-press technique. The same condition faced at 130 °C, hot-pressing temperature produced a smooth and clear film structure. The pro-longed hot-pressing duration reduced the bonding strength of the polymer matrix. Finally, a fast-cooling rate enhances the TS of the film. Therefore, the melt-blending and hot-pressing operating conditions significantly impact the physical and mechanical properties of PE/TPS/AV film. The results of this study are valuable for understanding that each formulation needs a specific processing condition essential as an initial assumption in simulation processes.

Curvature Heterogeneities Act as Singular Perturbations to Smooth Laplacian Fields: A Fluid Mechanics Demonstration.

In this Letter, we use a model fluid mechanics experiment to elucidate the impact of curvature heterogeneities on two-dimensional fields deriving from harmonic potential functions. This result is directly relevant to explain the smooth stationary structures in physical systems as diverse as curved liquid crystal and magnetic films, heat and Ohmic transport in wrinkled two-dimensional materials, and flows in confined channels. Combining microfluidic experiments and theory, we explain how curvature heterogeneities shape confined viscous flows. We show that isotropic bumps induce local distortions to Darcy's flows, whereas anisotropic curvature heterogeneities disturb them algebraically over system-spanning scales. Thanks to an electrostatic analogy, we gain insight into this singular geometric perturbation, and quantitatively explain it using both conformal mapping and numerical simulations. Altogether, our findings establish the robustness of our experimental observations and their broad relevance to all Laplacian problems beyond the specifics of our fluid mechanics experiment.

Single Ultrasonic-Assisted Washing for Eco-Efficient Production of Mackerel (Auxis thazard) Surimi.

This study highlights a promising single washing method for producing dark-fleshed mackerel surimi aided by ultrasonication in conjunction with cold carbonated water containing 0.6% NaCl and mixed antioxidants (0.5% EDTA/0.2% sodium erythorbate/0.2% sodium tripolyphosphate) (CSA). Different washing periods (5, 10, and 15 min) with and without ultrasound were tested. Unwashed mince (A1) and conventional water-washed surimi (10 min/cycle, 3 cycles) (A2) were used as controls. A3, A4, and A5 were subjected to ultrasound-assisted washing for 5, 10, and 15 min, respectively, whereas A6, A7, and A8 had non-ultrasound-assisted washing for 5, 10, and 15 min. Results showed that the surimi yield decreased as the ultrasonic treatment time increased from 5 to 15 min (p < 0.05). Increased ultrasonic time resulted in greater protein denaturation, protein oxidation, myoglobin removal, and lipid oxidation in surimi (p < 0.05). Surimi produced by CSA ultrasonication for 5 min (A3), on the other hand, had a comparable overall quality to A2 surimi (p > 0.05). The correspondence gel (A3) outperformed the control gel (A2) in terms of gel strength, whiteness, and water-holding capacity (p < 0.05). The formation of regularly continuous, more organized, and smooth network structures in surimi gel was observed in A2 and A3 gels, whereas sparse and larger pore sizes were noticed in surimi gels produced by longer ultrasonic treatment. All of the surimi gels had identical FTIR spectra, indicating that the functional groups of the protein gel were consistent throughout. As a result, a single 5 min CSA-ultrasonic washing could potentially yield surimi of comparable quality to conventional washing. This could pave the way for the development of dark-fleshed fish surimi, which would require less washing time and produce less waste water.

The Angular Use of Light in Architecture and the Concept of Space

In this study, the analysis of the understanding of space under the influence of light was made. The content of the study touched on the effect of light and space on human perception, both architecturally and computationally. The identity that the light adds to the space, the interaction of the material with the light, and the illusory properties of the light are explained. While examining these abstract concepts, the illumination area of the light was calculated with a computational application. The fact that light is one of the most effective elements used in space has revealed the necessity of designing form, material, and lighting together. It is understood that the effect of basic elements that make up space, such as form and material color, can be increased with angular lighting. It has been understood that if a textured surface is illuminated with a directional light, the visual effect of the surface will increase. However, it has been understood that a material with a smooth structure and a material with a rough structure cannot be illuminated with the same lighting method, and this visual effect will create negativity. For original lighting designs, it is necessary to make accented or homogeneous lighting according to the need, and it is possible to provide this with designed-planned lighting.

Modulating the texture of heat-set gels of phosphorylated walnut protein isolates through Glucono-δ-lactone acidification

The gelation of walnut protein isolates has not been extensively studied, mainly due to their inherent poor dispersity. This study investigated the gelation of alkaline-extracted walnut protein isolates (AWPI) and phosphorylated walnut protein isolates (PWPI) induced by heat treatment with glucono-δ-lactone (GDL) acidification, focusing on the impact of GDL concentrations on microstructure, rheology, and texture of the resulting gels. The PWPI gel exhibited lower hardness but a smoother structure than the AWPI gel. Notably, acidification with GDL (0.6–1.2%) significantly increased the stiffness of PWPI gels, increasing storage modulus and yield stress 10–50 times, while weakening AWPI gels. Varying concentrations of GDL effectively modulated the microstructure of the PWPI gels, leading to the altered texture (from a soft-solid state to a well-self-supporting stiff-solid gel) and water holding capacity (from approximately 46% to 85%). Additionally, hydrophobic interactions and disulfide bonds were identified as the primary forces involved in the gels.

Acetylated rice starch nanocrystals improved the physical, mechanical, and structural properties of native rice starch based films

Rice starch nanocrystals (SNC) and acetylated rice starch nanocrystals (ASNC) with three different substitution degrees (DS) for 0.22 (ASNCa), 0.56 (ASNCb), and 0.83 (ASNCc), respectively, were synthesized. Starch nanocrystals (SNC, ASNCa, ASNCb and ASNCc) with varying concentrations (0–25 %) were used in the production of composite rice starch-based films plasticized with glycerol using the solvent casting technique. Films were compared concerning their morphology, moisture content and solubility, transmittance, tensile strength, elongation at break. The SNC and ASNC content and acetylated DS had a significant effect (p ≤ 0.05) on all the properties investigated when compared to the control film. The addition of ASNC resulted in less hydrophilic films and UV light barrier properties, and the addition of SNC and ASNC increased the rigidity of starch film. There was an increase of 156.7 % in tensile strength for 10 % ASNCc composite films and a reduction of 68.1 % in water vapor permeability for 20 % ASNCc composite films. The rice starch/ASNCb nanocomposite films with the addition of 5 % and 10 % ASNCb exhibited a compact, smooth, and flat surface structure. Therefore, these results showed that ASNC significantly improved the mechanical properties, surface morphology and thermal stability of the films.

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma cells show diffuse expression of phagocytotic markers through the identification of lysosome-rich eosinophilic granules.

Paneth cell-like granules (PCLG) in clear cell renal cell carcinomas (RCC) have previously been reported but were not found to express neuroendocrine markers. This study was to investigate if the eosinophilic granules (so called PCLG) were enlarged lysosomes. A retrospective review of 72 different renal tumors was conducted which included 42 clear cell RCC, 16 papillary RCC, 6 chromophobe RCC, 5 clear cell papillary RCC, 2 urothelial carcinomas and 1 unclassified RCC. All tumors were evaluated for the eosinophilic granules on hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections. In addition, PAS-D staining, immunohistochemical stains, and electron microscopy were performed. The eosinophilic granules were found in 19% (8 out of 42) clear cell RCC, but not in the other renal tumor types. The granules stained positively for PAS-D and were also positive for lysosomal protein markers CD68 and lysozyme. Electron microscopy revealed that the eosinophilic granules were smooth ball-shaped structures in the cytoplasm, ranging in size from 0.8 to 1.4µm. The overall findings indicate that the eosinophilic granules were best correlated with lysosomes. The eosinophilic granules in clear cell RCC are expanded lysosomes, and this may be used as a unique feature for confirming the pathologic diagnosis of clear cell RCC. The findings further support the view that clear cell RCC have phagocytic capacity due to their containing abundant lysosomes in the cytoplasm.

Rice straw-derived cellulose: a comparative study of various pre-treatment technologies and its conversion to nanofibres

Rice straw is a waste product generated after the harvesting of rice crops and is commonly disposed of by burning it off in open fields. This study explored the potential for the extraction and conversion of cellulose to cellulose nanofibres (CNFs) to be used as smart delivery systems for fertilizers applications. In this study, alkali, steam explosion, and organosolv treatments were investigated for cellulose extraction efficiency. The morphological characterization of cellulose showed smooth fibrillar structures. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy represented significant removal of non-cellulosic components in treatments. The crystallinity increased from 52.2 to 65% in CNFs after fibrillation. Cellulose nanofibres (CNFs) had an average diameter of 37.4 nm and − 25.2 mV surface charges as determined by SEM and zeta potential, respectively, which have desired properties for holding fertilizers. Therefore, this study paves the way for value-added uses of rice straw as alternatives to current environmentally harmful practices.

A case of a thoracic duct cyst extending from the mediastinum to the cisterna chyli resected using bilateral thoracoscopic surgery in the prone position

BackgroundThoracic duct cysts are extremely rare mediastinal tumors. We report a case of a thoracic duct cyst extending from the caudal aspect of the left main bronchus to the left renal artery that was safely and completely resected via bilateral thoracoscopic surgery in the prone position.Case presentationA 77-year-old male was referred to our hospital for follow-up computed tomography (CT) of prostate cancer, which revealed a mediastinal tumor and fatty low-density along the posterior mediastinum of the para-aortic artery with a slightly high-density component. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a T2-weighted image with high intensity. The preoperative radiological diagnosis was lipoma or well-differentiated liposarcoma. CT in the prone position suggested that the tumor could be resected from the thoracic cavity to the caudal side, and bilateral thoracoscopic surgery was performed in the prone position. Based on the surgical findings, the tumor was diagnosed as a thoracic duct cyst rather than a lipoma. Dissection around the thoracic duct cyst was performed using a vessel-sealing system to prevent leakage of the chyle, and reliable clipping was performed to resect the cisterna chyli. Histopathological examination revealed smooth muscle structures around the cyst, suggestive of a thoracic duct cyst. The diagnosis of a thoracic duct cyst was made based on a high triglyceride level of 1310 mg/dL on examination of the milky-white cyst fluid. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful, and he was discharged 4 days postoperatively. A CT scan performed 13 months after surgery showed no recurrence.ConclusionsA rare thoracic duct cyst extending from the mediastinum to the cisterna chyli was safely and completely resected using bilateral thoracoscopic surgery, with the patient in the prone position.

Characteristics of Biodegradable Film as Food Product Packaging Based on Casein, Chitosan and Gelatin

The purpose of this study was to determine the best level of gelatin addition in the manufacture of edible film. The materials used were casein hydrolyzate, chitosan with different percentage of gelatin. This research method is a complete randomized laboratory experimental design with four replications and five treatments including without gelatin and with gelatin 0.25%, 0.5%, 1% and 1.5%. Variables included solubility, swelling, moisture content, water vapor permeability, water vapor transmission rate, thickness, tensile strength and scanning electron microscopy. Data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance and followed by Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. The results showed that there were significant differences (P&lt;0.05) in solubility and water vapor permeability. There were very significant differences (P&lt;0.01) in swelling, water content, water vapor transmission rate, thickness and tensile strength. SEM testing resulted in a smooth surface structure. The conclusion of this study is the best result with the addition of 0.25% gelatin.

A Robust Model-Based Strategy for Real-Time Fault Detection and Diagnosis in an Electro-Hydraulic Actuator Using Updated Interactive Multiple Model Smooth Variable Structure Filter

Abstract In industries where harsh environments and stringent safety requirements are prevalent, the widespread use of applications has made it essential to focus on fault detection and diagnosis (FDD) in hydraulic actuators. To achieve this, model-based FDD techniques are utilized, which employ estimation tools like observers and filters. However, for many applications, particularly in fluid power systems, observability, and parameter uncertainty pose constraints to extracting information and estimating parameters. To address these issues, an efficient form of interactive multiple model (IMM), called updated IMM (UIMM), is applied to an electro-hydraulic actuator (EHA) to detect and isolate persisting friction and leakage faults. UIMM method progresses through a series of models that correspond to the fault condition's progression instead of considering all models at once (as is done in IMM). This reduces the number of models running simultaneously, providing two significant benefits: enhanced computational efficiency and avoidance of the combinatorial explosion. The smooth variable structure filter with variable boundary layer (SVSF-VBL) is used for state and parameter estimation in conjunction with UIMM. SVSF-VBL is a reliable suboptimal estimation method that performs better than the Kalman filter regarding uncertainties related to the system and modeling. The performance of the UIMM method is validated by the simulation of fault conditions for a typical EHA. A fault tolerable control system (FTCS) has been designed to demonstrate the use of the proposed FDD strategy for fault management in a closed-loop system.

Temporal-Aware Neural Network for Dense Non-Rigid Structure from Motion

Modern neural networks addressing dense Non-Rigid Structure from Motion (NRSFM) dilemmas often grapple with intricate a priori constraints, deterring scalability, or overlook the imperative of consistent application of a priori knowledge throughout the entire input sequence. In this paper, an innovative neural network architecture is introduced. Initially, the complete 2D sequence image undergoes embedding into a low-dimensional space. Subsequently, multiple self-attention layers are employed to extract inter-frame features, with the objective of deriving a more continuous and temporally smooth low-dimensional structure closely resembling real data’s intrinsic structure. Moreover, it has been demonstrated by others that gradient descent during the training of multilayer linear networks yields minimum rank solutions, implicitly providing regularization that is equally applicable to this task. Benefiting from the excellence of the proposed network architecture, no additional a priori knowledge is mandated, barring the constraint of temporal smoothness. Extensive experimentation confirms the method’s exceptional performance in addressing dense NRSFM challenges, outperforming recent results across various dense benchmark datasets.

Whitney stratifications are conically smooth

The notion of conically smooth structure on a stratified space was introduced by Ayala, Francis and Tanaka. This is a very well behaved analogue of a differential structure in the context of stratified topological spaces, satisfying good properties such as the existence of resolutions of singularities and handlebody decompositions. In this paper we prove Ayala, Francis and Tanaka’s conjecture that any Whitney stratified space admits a canonical conically smooth structure. We thus establish a connection between the theory of conically smooth spaces and the classical examples of stratified spaces from differential topology.

The structure of beta-diversity explains why the relevance of phytoindication increases under the influence of park reconstruction

Urbanization causes the highest local extinction rates and often leads to the loss of the vast majority of native species. Plant communities are sensitive to urban expansion and are therefore indicators of human land use. A city park, part of which has undergone reconstruction, was studied. The study found that the changes in ecological conditions caused by the reconstruction of a city park can be detected using phytoindication. The informativeness of phytoindication scales was shown to increase under conditions of anthropogenic load. The phytoindication scales are a reliable source of information for assessing the state of the vegetation cover of park plantations. The ecological regimes were assessed based on descriptions of the vegetation cover using Didukh's phytoindication scales. The phytoindication approach allows one to identify changes in ecological regimes that occur as a result of park reconstruction and to separate them from ecological regimes of natural origin. The study showed that the reconstruction of the park significantly affects the conditions of the park and the diversity of vegetation. The ratio of useful phytoindicative information compared to information noise in the structure of beta-diversity of the park's plantations increases significantly as a result of the park's reconstruction. The reconstruction of the park has led to changes in the spatial organization of the vegetation cover. The results obtained indicate a decrease in soil moisture as a result of the park's reconstruction. The park’s reconstruction leads to a significant change in the light regime of the park’s plantings, which leads to changes in the park’s vegetation and soils. Reducing the density of plantations as a result of their pruning during the reconstruction process also decreases the amount of fallen leaves that form leaf litter. A significant increase in the variability of the moisture regime under the influence of the park reconstruction was found. The phytoindication revealed a decrease in the acidity of the soil solution as a result of the reconstruction. The changes in soil acidity are accompanied by an increase in phytoindication estimates of carbonate content in the soil. The observed increase in carbonate content estimates may be an artifact when representatives of another ecological group also have related ecological properties that can be misinterpreted as indicators of certain regimes. The phytoindication also revealed trends in the variability of microclimatic conditions in the park as a result of reconstruction. The reconstruction of the park leads not only to a change in the modal levels of ecological regimes, but also to the formation of specific patterns of their spatial distribution. The heterogenization of the ecological space under the influence of reconstruction has been established. This heterogenization is evident in the fact that areas with homogeneous vegetation cover are decreasing. The accuracy of the description of the spatial process was found to have decreased after the park reconstruction procedures. Smooth spatial structures of the park’s vegetation cover without reconstruction are changing into rough spatial structures of the park after reconstruction. The park’s reconstruction obviously disrupts the course of long-term processes that structure the vegetation cover, which leads to temporal and spatial desynchronization of the dynamics of ecological processes. The spatial variation of variables that indicate soil processes can best be described. In contrast, the phytoindication scales that indicate climatic factors are much less spatially structured. The best variogram model to describe the spatial process is also changing under the influence of reconstruction. The significant consequences of the park reconstruction are time variability and spatial heterogeneity of ecological processes.

Breaking the temperature limitation of zein-rice starch dough by microwave pre-gelatinization: Morphological, structural and rheological properties of the dough

Zein has gluten-like viscoelasticity, but its use is limited due to high glass transition temperature (Tg). To break the temperature limitation of zein-starch dough, microwave heating was used to pre-gelatinize a partial of the starch with zein, and then the remaining was added and kneaded to form a dough. Pre-gelatinized doughs formed by rice starch (PRS), zein-starch (PUZS), and extruded zein-starch (PEZS) were included in this study. The thermal, morphological, rheological, and secondary structural properties of the dough were investigated. The results showed that zein and starch formed a composite gel network and firmly bound starch granules, which improved the dough properties with a smooth surface and compact internal structure, increased strain tolerance, and decreased stiffness. Unextruded zein was distributed uniformly and had strong interactions with the starch. Extruded zein tended to form large particles and had limited interaction with starch but improved dough extensibility. Microwave pre-gelatinization increased the stability of the secondary structure of zein and maintained the viscoelasticity of dough below zein’s Tg, which provided a safe and effective way to break the temperature limitation of zein as a structural protein used in foods.

Electrospun Fe3O4-chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol nanofibrous film for improved capture and elimination of foodborne pathogens

This study developed a new “capture and killing” antibacterial approach for efficient elimination of foodborne pathogens. Fe3O4-Chitosan (CS)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibrous films with improved antibacterial and mechanical properties were fabricated by a simple, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective electrospinning technique. The relationship between the physical properties (viscosity, surface tension, and conductivity) and spinnability of CS/PVA as fiber forming matrix was explored. Electrospun Fe3O4-CS/PVA films (0.03–0.12 mm) with smooth and bead-free nanofibrous structures (145–169 nm) were successfully obtained. Compared with the film electrospun from neat CS/PVA, incorporating Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) (1.25–5 wt%) in CS/PVA nanofibrous film promoted bacterial attachment and increased the final inactivated efficiency, showing a difference with Fe3O4 loading and bacterial strain, which had the highest value against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphyloccus aureus (S. aureus) being 90 % and 66.30 %, respectively. The tensile strength and elongation at break of Fe3O4-CS/PVA films enhanced by 46–192 % and 92–141 %, respectively. Results of the cytotoxicity test indicated that the resulting films had high biocompatibility. These promising findings provide a novel strategy for effective foodborne pathogens elimination, which could apply to sterilizing and food packaging to extend the shelf life of liquid food.

Aortic Dissection and a Previously Unreported ACTA2 Missense Variant Mutation in a Young Patient: A Case Report.

Hereditary connective tissue disease is known to cause aortic lesions at an early age. Familial aortic aneurysm/dissection is caused due to an ACTA2 mutation that affects smooth muscle structure. We present a case of a 15-year-old boy with a mild developmental disorder in whom no abnormalities were identified on previous physical examinations. The patient presented with severe left heart failure, extensive dissection from the ascending aorta to the common iliac artery, and myocardial and cerebral infarctions. He underwent an urgent Bentall surgery. Six months later, the patient underwent surgical reconstruction of the abdominal aorta from the aortic arch and returned to normal daily activities. Pathological examination demonstrated the absence of elastic fibers but presence of abundant reticular fibers and mucopolysaccharides from the tunica intima to the media. Genetic testing revealed a heterozygous missense variant of the ACTA2 gene. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first sporadic case of structurally abnormal smooth muscle organization resulting in clinical symptoms with no previously reported pathogenicity.