Vacuum Treatment Research Articles

Combining Cocatalyst and Oxygen Vacancy to Synergistically Improve Fe2O3 Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation Performance

Considering the poor conductivity of Fe2O3 and the weak oxygen evolution reaction associated with it, surface hole accumulation leads to electron hole pair recombination, which inhibits the photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance of the Fe2O3 photoanode. Therefore, the key to improving the PEC water oxidation performance of the Fe2O3 photoanode is to take measures to improve the conductivity of Fe2O3 and accelerate the reaction kinetics of surface oxidation. In this work, the PEC performances of Fe2O3 photoanodes are synergistically improved by combining loaded an FeOOH cocatalyst and oxygen vacancy doping. Firstly, amorphous FeOOH layers are successfully prepared on Fe2O3 nanostructures through simple photoassisted electrodepositon. Then oxygen vacancies are introduced into FeOOH-Fe2O3 through plasma vacuum treatment, which reduces the content of Fe-O (OL) and Fe-OH (-OH), jointly promoting the generation of oxygen vacancies. Oxygen vacancy can increase the concentration of most carriers in Fe2O3 and form photo-induced charge traps, promoting the separation of electron holes and enhancing the conductivity of Fe2O3. The other parts of -OH act as oxygen evolution catalysts to reduce the reaction obstacle of water oxidation and promote the transfer of holes to the electrode/electrolyte interface. The performance of FeOOH-Fe2O3 after plasma vacuum treatment has been greatly improved, and the photocurrent density is about 1.9 times higher than that of the Fe2O3 photoanode. The improvement in the water oxidation performance of PEC is considered to be the synergistic effect of the cocatalyst and oxygen vacancy. All outstanding PEC response characteristics show that the modification of the cocatalyst and oxygen vacancy doping represent a favorable strategy for synergistically improving Fe2O3 photoanode performance.

Patient and wound factors associated with WOUND-Q scales measuring health-related quality of life: An international cross-sectional study.

The WOUND-Q is a patient-reported outcome measure for individuals with any type of chronic wound. This study aimed to identify patient and wound factors associated with the four WOUND-Q health-related quality of life (HRQL) scales: Life impact, Psychological, Sleep, and Social. Adults with a chronic wound were recruited internationally through clinical settings between August 2018 and May 2020, and through an online platform (i.e. Prolific) in September 2022. Multivariable linear regression analyses were conducted to identify factors significantly associated with the WOUND-Q scales. The assessments obtained were 1273, 1275, 706, and 1256 for the Life Impact, Psychological, Sleep, and Social scales, respectively. The mean age of participants was 55 (SD = 18) years; most (66%) had a single wound, and most (56%) wounds had lasted more than 6 months. The most common causes were trauma, surgery, and diabetic foot ulcer. Wound characteristics associated with worse scores on at least one of the scales were drainage, vacuum treatment, aetiologies (i.e. diabetic foot ulcer, trauma, other, multiple), duration (i.e. 10-11 months), having four or more wounds, smell, and sleep interference, while wound location different from the face or neck was associated with better scores (p < 0.05). Patient factors associated with worse scores included having diabetes or a comorbidity, whereas increasing age or male gender were associated with better scores (p < 0.05). Sleep disturbances had the largest negative influence on HRQL scores. This study identified factors affecting HRQL in individuals with chronic wounds. Understanding these associations can inform better management and treatment strategies to improve HRQL for these patients.

Effect of Ocimum basiicum L. essential oil microemulsion on the quality of snakehead (Channa argus) under different dipping conditions during cold storage

AbstractBackgroundOcimum basiicum L. essential oil (OBEO) is an herbal essential oil that inhibits microbial activity during food preservation. However, preservation of aquatic products is susceptible to environmental factors. The efficacy of different impregnation techniques was evaluated. In this study, we investigated the application of OBEO in the cold storage process of snakehead fish fillets.ResultsIn terms of microbiological and ammonia content, the best freshness of snakehead fillets was observed under normal impregnation. On the 18th day, the essential oil impregnated group without ultrasonic and vacuum treatment showed a reduction in trimethylamine content by 5.14 mg/100 g, total volatile base nitrogen by 16.32 mg N/100 g, K value by 50.82%, and H2S content by 134.73 mmol/g, as compared to the control group. Similarly, the indexes such as the pH value, free amino acid (FAA) value and ammonia content reflected the bacteriostatic properties of OBEO and the degree of spoilage of snakeheads. In a word, the results showed that although the homogeneity of the emulsion was improved after ultrasonic treatment, it tends to destabilize the snakehead fillets.ConclusionTherefore, this study demonstrated that snakehead fillets exhibited better preservation under normal or vacuum conditions in combination with OBEO impregnation.

Molecular­­­–Squeeze Triggers Guest Desorption from Sponge–Like Macrocycle Crystals

Desorption in conventional porous sorbents often employ external forces including inert gas blowing, heating, vacuum treatment to trigger guest release. We here report an unprecedented molecular–squeeze triggered guest release behavior from sponge–like macrocycle crystals. The crystals function as typical sponge to include guest molecules within their microscopic voids that are adaptively formed, thus acting as adsorbents for toluene/pyridine separations. Intriguingly, vaporized ethyl acetate ( EA ) molecules trigger the guest release from the crystals without entering the pores or voids of the crystals to replace the guests. Instead, they work as external forces applied directly onto the crystals themselves, ‘‘squeezing” the materials to close the voids through supramolecular interactions between EA and macrocycles on the crystal surface and release the guest molecules. Various experimental techniques as well as molecular dynamics simulations reveal the mechanism of the molecular–squeeze induced guest release procedure. The EA –regenerated crystals can be recycled multiple times without the loss of separation performance. Compared with conventional guest release procedure, this method is manipulated in a mild condition, showing the potential in saving cost and energy.

Molecular-Squeeze Triggers Guest Desorption from Sponge-Like Macrocycle Crystals.

Desorption in conventional porous sorbents often employ external forces including inert gas blowing, heating, vacuum treatment to trigger guest release. We here report an unprecedented molecular-squeeze triggered guest release behavior from sponge-like macrocycle crystals. The crystals function as typical sponge to include guest molecules within their microscopic voids that are adaptively formed, thus acting as adsorbents for toluene/pyridine separations. Intriguingly, vaporized ethyl acetate (EA) molecules trigger the guest release from the crystals without entering the pores or voids of the crystals to replace the guests. Instead, they work as external forces applied directly onto the crystals themselves, ''squeezing" the materials to close the voids through supramolecular interactions between EA and macrocycles on the crystal surface and release the guest molecules. Various experimental techniques as well as molecular dynamics simulations reveal the mechanism of the molecular-squeeze induced guest release procedure. The EA-regenerated crystals can be recycled multiple times without the loss of separation performance. Compared with conventional guest release procedure, this method is manipulated in a mild condition, showing the potential in saving cost and energy.

Failure of vinyl coatings under alternating hydraulic pressure

To investigate the effects of substrate surface roughness and alternating pressure on the bonding strength between the vinyl anti-corrosion coating and the substrate, several coated samples were prepared using 304 stainless steel substrate to carry out alternating hydraulic pressure tests. The surface morphology of the coating and substrate, as well as the surface roughness of the substrate, were examined using a laser confocal microscope and a three-dimensional surface profiler. The alternating hydraulic pressure test was conducted inside an autoclave, and the bonding strength was measured using the double-test column method. The results show that the bonding strength of the coating increases with substrate roughness, with a more pronounced effect when the roughness is less than 1 μm. When the roughness increased from 0.189 µm to 0.85 µm, the bond strength of the coating without vacuum treatment increased from 4.97 MPa to 7.07 MPa; further increasing the roughness to 1.251 μm resulted in a bond strength of 7.92 MPa. During the preparation phase, vacuum treatment effectively eliminated internal bubbles and micro-defects within the coating, significantly enhancing the bond strength by 4 to 5 MPa. The alternating pressure causes cracks on the surface of the coating and further accelerates the failure of the protective effect of the coating. After 180 cycles of alternating hydraulic pressure tests, the bonding strength of the coating without vacuum treatment decreased by 43.3% from 6.99 MPa to 3.96 MPa. In contrast, the bonding strength of the vacuum-treated coating decreased by only 18.6% from 11.77 MPa to 9.58 MPa. The increase in coating thickness is related to the accumulation of water penetration and corrosion products at the substrate-coating interface.

Functionalized cellulose nanocrystals for enhanced wood protection: Synthesis, characterization, and performance

This study developed eco-friendly protective materials for wood preservation, focusing on enhancing fungal decay resistance, insect damage prevention, and improving physical and mechanical properties. The research examined the penetration of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and their functionalized compounds into wood tissue, evaluating their impact on poplar wood. Methodology included optimizing CNC production through acid hydrolysis, testing various temperature and time combinations. CNCs were then functionalized with Poly(dimethylsiloxane)-bis(3-aminopropyl) terminated (PDMS-NH), copper hydroxide, zinc oxide, and silver nanoparticles. Characterization techniques such as AFM, TEM, ESEM, XRD, FTIR, and μ-Raman spectroscopy analyzed CNCs and their derivatives. Wood samples were impregnated with CNCs and functionalized CNCs using pressure and vacuum treatments, then tested for weight gain, durability against white rot (Trametes versicolor) and brown rot (Coniophora puteana) fungi, resistance to insect attack (Trichoferus holosericeus), leaching resistance, and mechanical properties. Key findings included successful optimization of CNC production and functionalization, improved resistance against decay fungi (especially with CNC3/Cu treatment), elevating durability classification from "non-durable" to "low durability". However, treatments showed limited effectiveness against insect infestation. Leaching resistance varied among treatments, with CNC3/PDMS-NH performing best. Mechanical properties, particularly modulus of elasticity, improved significantly with CNC3 impregnation, especially in less degraded wood samples. The study contributes to eco-friendly wood protection systems development, demonstrating functionalized CNCs' potential to enhance wood durability and mechanical properties. Further research is needed to improve insect resistance and optimize the leaching performance of CNC-based treatments, paving the way for more sustainable wood preservation methods.

Production of improved quality steel in highscale basic oxygen furnaces using vacuum treatment

The article presents the results of the converter steel technology development using ladle treatment including portion vacuum degassing at vessel UPVS-350 and pouring at continuous casting machine. In order to improve the quality of metal products, steels of grades 3sp, 08sp, 20k, 20sp, 09G2S, 10G2S1D, 09G2S, 08GT, 17G1SU, 17G1S, 17GS, 10HSND, 15HSND, E36, pipe steels of type 09G2FB were treated by vacuum. Steel was smelted in basic oxygen furnaces with a capacity of 350 ton using technical pure oxygen (99,2–99,5% О2). The article shows that with a UPVS-350 vacuum chamber dilution to133 Pa (1 mm Hg), a metal portion weight of 20–40 tons, the number of vacuum ing cycles less than 25 and a circulation coefficient from 2 to 5, a degree of oxygen removal of up to 40%and hydrogen up to 50% can be achieved. There is an improvement in the pouring ability of vacuum treated steel, a decrease in the axial discontinuity (stratification)at the central part of the slabs from 3 to 2–2.5 grades, decrease of the nonmetallic inclusions content in the billets by 0,2–2,3 grade and their distribution in the volume of metal is more uniform. When exhaustion in a vacuum chamber reach of 1–2 mm Hg level, the impact toughness and elongation of steel in crease. For carbon steel, the production of inappropriate quality metal according to the ultrasonic control decreased by about 3 times (from 0,39 to 0,12%), and the total degree of the rejected metal decreased from 1,06 to 0,65%. During vacuuming of 08GT steel using for chemical reactors, there is a more compact and greater uniformity of the ferrite-perlite structure with the value of the actual grain no. 7–9. The internal structure at the liquation central zone of the sheets produced of this steel is also improved

Mass transfer kinetics of ultrasonic- and vacuum-ultrasonic-assisted static brine of chicken breast (Pectoralis major).

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different ultrasound treatment (UT) conditions (Control, UT-150, UT-300, UT-450, Vacuum-UT-150, Vacuum-UT-300, Vacuum-UT-450) on the brining kinetics and meat quality of chicken breast. The results showed that vacuum-ultrasonic-assisted treatment greatly accelerated the transfer of moisture and NaCl, and the highest yield was obtained by ultrasonic power of 450W. The mass transfer kinetics (k1 and k2) were significantly related to vacuum pretreatment and ultrasonic power. The values of k1 for total and moisture weight changes decreased with the increase of ultrasonic power, whereas the values of k2 increased with vacuum pretreatment. The application of ultrasound treatment with vacuum improved the NaCl effective diffusion coefficients (De) from 1.189×10-9 to 1.308-1.449×10-9 m2/s, and the highest De was found with Vacuum-UT-450. The treatment of ultrasound and vacuum can reduce shear force and enhance the water-holding capacity (WHC). According to the analysis of water distribution, vacuum and ultrasound could decrease the T23 values, indicating that the mobility of water decreased. The result of microscopic observation further supported that the disruption of myofibrils was related to the tenderness and WHC changes, which was caused by vacuum and ultrasound treatment. Thus, Vacuum-UT brining could be employed as an emerging technology for improving the efficiency of brining and meat quality of other meat. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Vacuum-ultrasonic-assisted static brine is an effective and feasible treatment to replace tumbling treatment for maintaining the integrity of the muscle bundles and accelerating the brining rate.

The effect of complex extra-furnace treatment of metal melts on the formation of non-metallic inclusions in large-sized ingots

Abstract The article presents the results of studying non-metallic inclusions (NI) after extra-furnace treatment of the 13Cr9Mo2Co1NiVNbNB steel melt to produce large-sized ingots. The objects of the study were laboratory samples (the first batch), and samples obtained after melting in industrial furnace, followed by modification and double vacuuming (the second batch). Previously, using the Fact Sage software, modeling of the NI formation processes was carried out. The data were obtained on the possible NI composition and amount in this steel. The composition, the contamination index, parameters of NI in samples have been studied. It was established that in the samples of the first batch, the main part of the NI consisted of chromium- and manganese-containing oxides, which occupy more than 94% of the total area of the NI. In the samples of the second batch, the main part of the NI was represented by aluminum containing systems. It was shown that the average size of NI in the samples after extra-furnace treatment differs slightly (5%–12%), however, the contamination index in industrial samples after vacuum treatment and especially after modification and repeated vacuum treatment was reduced by more than 10 times. The results obtained allow to recommend vacuum treatment and complex modification with calcium and boron as measures to prevent the formation of NI and to improve metallurgical quality when smelting large ingots using complex alloy steels.

Cu Evaporation from Liquid Iron Alloy in Stream

The accumulation of copper in steel scrap is becoming an increasingly problematic issue in the steelmaking industry. Accordingly, the present study was undertaken to investigate the removal of copper from a liquid Fe–Cu alloy via tapping under vacuum. Furthermore, the impact of surface-active components sulfur and oxygen was examined. For this purpose, four Fe–0.5 wt% Cu alloys with varying oxygen and sulfur contents were melted and subsequently poured at a pressure of 100 Pa. The findings indicate that alloys with low oxygen and sulfur content exhibited enhanced copper evaporation. Additionally, the evaporation of other tramp metals, including manganese, phosphorus, and tin, was observed, and the influence of sulfur and oxygen on this process was discussed. Furthermore, the vacuum treatment conditions for copper evaporation in industrial settings were explored.

Inclusion Transfer Phenomenon under Unsteady Multiphase Flow during Rheinstahl–Heraeus Vacuum Treatment Process

Inclusion particles are extremely harmful to the quality of steel products, and Rheinstahl–Heraeus (RH) vacuum treatment is the key process to remove the inclusions from molten steel. By coupling analyzing the unsteady gas–liquid flow and decarbonization reaction, the inclusion mass/population conservation model is developed to explore the inclusion particles transfer phenomenon during RH vacuum treatment process. The coupling mathematical models are validated by the metallurgical experimental data. The results show that the predicted inclusion mass concentration in unsteady CO–Ar–molten steel multiphase system has significantly smaller relative error than that in steady Ar–molten steel flow. CO bubble plays a key role in the inclusion transfer phenomenon, which prompts the inclusion transport, the collision‐aggregation, and the removal process. At the 4th minute of vacuum treatment, the average inclusion volume concentration and the average inclusion number density in CO–Ar–molten steel are 72.75% and 64.62% of those in Ar–molten steel, respectively. The average inclusion characteristic radius in CO–Ar–molten steel is 7.33% larger than that in Ar–molten steel.

Factors Affecting the Adhesion of Flour Particles to Stainless-steel Surfaces and Vacuum Dry-cleaning

Recent outbreaks and recalls linked to flour-based products have highlighted the need for improved cleaning methods in low-moisture environments. The factors affecting adhesion forces of flour particles, and the vacuum cleaning methodologies to overcome these forces, need to be better understood. The objectives of this study were to: (1) Measure electrostatic charge build-up in flour under different environmental conditions (20, 40, 60% relative humidity at room temperature), (2) quantify how powder size (US standard No. 60–80 or 80–100 mesh), electrostatic charge (charged and uncharged), and relative humidity impact the force required to remove the powder from an electropolished 304 stainless steel coupon (8 × 8 × 0.2 cm), and (3) determine the most effective vacuum nozzle angle (0, 45, 90° relative to the surface) for cleaning. Chargeability (nC) of flour samples was assessed using Faraday cup electrometry, while the surface adhesion force of the flour particles was measured using a custom-built impact tester. The surface cleanliness after vacuum treatments was assessed using ATP (adenosine triphosphate) swabs and a luminometer. Charged flour samples at 20% relative humidity (RH) exhibited a significantly higher charge compared to those at 40 and 60% RH. Within the 60–80 mesh range, charged flour showed higher adhesion rates than uncharged samples at both 20 and 40% RH. However, in the 80–100 mesh range, charged flour did not show a significant difference in adhesion when compared to uncharged samples at any RH level. Additionally, at 60% RH, surface residues measured by ATP were significantly lower for a vacuum angle of 90° than for 0° across both 60–80 mesh and 80–100 mesh size ranges of wheat flour. The vacuum cleaning treatment proved capable of overcoming the increase in adhesion from triboelectric forces; however, trace flour residues were still detected on stainless steel surfaces postvacuuming, indicating that vacuuming alone may be insufficient.

Effects of aggregates and fibers on the strength and permeability of concrete exposed to low vacuum environment

The performance and regulation of concrete in low vacuum environments are receiving increasing attention. This study investigates the effects of aggregates and fibers on the strength and permeability of concrete in a low vacuum environment, using varying gradients of sand ratios (37.5 %, 40 %, and 42 %) and aggregate-to-binder ratios (3.27, 3.92, and 4.14). Three types of non-metallic fibers are utilized: polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and glass fibers. Evaluations focus on concrete strength, mass loss, gas permeability, capillary water absorption, and porosity. Results indicate that higher sand and aggregate-to-binder ratios enhance both flexural and compressive strength. Fiber incorporation improves flexural and compressive toughness, with PE fibers showing the most significant toughening effect. The low vacuum environment increases the strength of the concrete but reduces its axial compression toughness ratio and increases brittleness, while fiber incorporation helps improve the compression toughness of the concrete. Higher sand and aggregate-to-binder ratios reduce mass loss and accelerate drying equilibrium, while fibers increase mass loss and prolong drying equilibrium, with PVA fibers causing greater mass loss. The pattern of concrete mass loss can be explained by the tortuosity of the moisture diffusion path. Additionally, low vacuum significantly increases the gas permeability of concrete. Enhancing the sand and aggregate-to-binder ratios reduces permeability both before and after low vacuum treatment. Although fibers increase the gas permeability, they help mitigate this increase under low vacuum condition. Capillary water absorption tests reveal that concrete under low vacuum condition has a significantly higher water absorption rate compared to air-drying condition. Increasing sand and aggregate-to-binder ratios reduces water absorption and capillary water content, whereas fibers have the opposite effect. Porosity tests show that moisture migration in a low vacuum environment is mainly related to permeable porosity, while total porosity is more closely related to compressive strength.

Effects of Corm Treatment with Cold Plasma and Electromagnetic Field on Growth and Production of Saffron Metabolites in Crocus sativus.

Crocus sativus L. is a widely cultivated traditional plant for obtaining dried red stigmas known as "saffron," the most expensive spice in the world. The response of C. sativus to pre-sowing processing of corms with cold plasma (CP, 3 and 5 min), vacuum (3 min), and electromagnetic field (EMF, 5 min) was assessed to verify how such treatments affect plant performance and the quality and yield of herbal raw materials. The results show that applied physical stressors did not affect the viability of corms but caused stressor-dependent changes in the kinetics of sprouting, growth parameters, leaf trichome density, and secondary metabolite content in stigmas. The effect of CP treatment on plant growth and metabolite content was negative, but all stressors significantly (by 42-74%) increased the number of leaf trichomes. CP3 treatment significantly decreased the length and dry weight of flowers by 43% and 60%, respectively, while EMF treatment increased the length of flowers by 27%. However, longer CP treatment (5 min) delayed germination. Vacuum treatment improved the uniformity of germination by 28% but caused smaller changes in the content of stigma compounds compared with CP and EMF. Twenty-six compounds were identified in total in Crocus stigma samples by the HPLC-DAD method, including 23 crocins, rutin, picrocrocin, and safranal. Processing of Crocus corms with EMF showed the greatest efficiency in increasing the production of secondary metabolites in saffron. EMF increased the content of marker compounds in stigmas (crocin 4: from 8.95 to 431.17 mg/g; crocin 3: from 6.27 to 164.86 mg/g; picrocrocin: from 0.4 to 1.0 mg/g), although the observed effects on growth were neutral or slightly positive. The obtained findings indicate that treatment of C. sativus corms with EMF has the potential application for increasing the quality of saffron by enhancing the amounts of biologically active compounds.

Anastomotic leakage following surgical resection in the upper gastrointestinal tract

Surgical resection is the consistent component of curative treatment strategies for primary malignant diseases of the stomach and the esophagus. The placement of anastomoses for the necessary reconstruction still accounts for substantial morbidity and in the case of afailure to rescue also for mortality, especially for esophagojejunostomy and esophagogastrostomy. The diagnostics of anastomotic leakage routinely involve computed tomography and endoscopy and timely performance appears to be essential. Endoscopy can simultaneously initiate the essential treatment step. Amajor reason for the improvement of postoperative outcomes after resection in the upper gastrointestinal tract in the last decades is the successful and mostly endoscopically performed management of anastomotic leakage, whereby different endoscopic treatment options are now available. Endoscopic vacuum therapy has become established as the standard, normally with an endoscopic vacuum sponge technique but is also now supplemented by acombination system of vacuum sponge and stent. Furthermore, afoil-coated multiple lumen nasogastric tube represents another available option, which can possibly especially be used as aprophylactic measure. The longest established endoscopic therapy option for anastomotic leaks, the endoluminal metal stent, has been replaced as the standard by the vacuum treatment but is still used in suitable situations. Additionally, there are endoscopic suture devices that are currently only used very occasionally. Surgical revision is always available as treatment escalation but is only recommended for very early occurrences and possibly technically related anastomotic leakage and in the case of failure of endoscopic treatment. This article describes and summarizes the diagnostics and treatment of anastomotic leakages after surgical procedures of the upper gastrointestinal tract.

15 Years of Vacuum Bell Therapy for Pectus Excavatum: Long-term Outcomes and Influencing Factors

BackgroundLong-term results and factors affecting outcomes of vacuum bell therapy for pectus excavatum are relatively unknown. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study on patients (<18y) treated with vacuum bell therapy between May 2008 and October 2021. Primary outcome was treatment success; secondary outcomes were analysis of daily time spent on treatment, treatment duration, complications, long-term follow-up, treatment for patients awaiting a Nuss procedure, treatment for female patients, and factors affecting outcomes. ResultsOf 259 patients treated with vacuum bell therapy, 18.9% (n = 49/259) were still being treated, 17.4% (n = 45/259) were lost to follow-up and 63.7% (n = 165/259) completed treatment, with a 52.1% (n = 86/165) success rate. Median follow-up was 64.0 months (interquartile range 48.0–87.0). More time spent daily on vacuum bell therapy, total treatment duration, and overnight use led to a higher success rate (P = 0.002, P < 0.001, P < 0.001 resp.). Complications (22.8%, n = 59/259) were minor, recurrence occurred in 2.3% (n = 2/86) of patients. Of the patients treated while awaiting a Nuss procedure, 26.7% (n = 4/15) no longer required the Nuss procedure. Breast growth made 39.3% (n = 11/28) of female patients quit treatment. Deeper deformities (P = 0.02, P = 0.009), flexible chest wall (P = 0.007) and symptomatic pectus excavatum (P = 0.02) resulted in lower success rates. ConclusionsVacuum bell therapy is successful in up to 52.1% of patients. Overnight vacuum bell use and treatment while awaiting a Nuss procedure should be encouraged. Older patients with a stiff chest wall can be successfully treated with prolonged treatment. For female patients watchful waiting or early treatment, to prevent challenges during breast growth, is preferred. Level of evidenceLevel II.

Effect of vacuum combined with ultrasound on color protection of pomegranate juice

AbstractPomegranate juice is prone to color fission during processing and storage due to the instability of anthocyanins, resulting in significant economic losses. This study aims to inhibit the browning of pomegranate juice during processing using the combined technology of vacuum and ultrasound for maintaining its color as much as possible. Pomegranate juice was treated with vacuum (0.5 MPa) and ultrasound (300, 600, 900, 1200, and 1500 W; 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 min), respectively, to investigate the effects on the color, antioxidant capacity, anthocyanin/polyphenol content, and polyphenol oxidase activity of pomegranate juice. The results showed that the combined treatment of vacuum and ultrasound had a better effect on improving the total anthocyanin content of pomegranate juice than vacuum or ultrasound treatment alone. Vacuum combined with ultrasound can reduce the browning during pomegranate juice processing, increasing browning inhibition rates by 46.01% and 46.19%; reduce the activity of PPO enzyme and increase the inhibition rate of PPO enzyme activity by 35.58%; maintain a high total phenolic content, increasing the total phenolic content of pomegranate juice by 29.27% and 33.79%, respectively; and improve the ABTS scavenging rates by 2.89% and 1.92%, and increase DPPH scavenging rates by 1.35% and 3.01%. Moreover, vacuum ultrasound treatment had no significant effect on the odor of pomegranate juice. Vacuum combined with ultrasonic treatment is beneficial for protecting the color of pomegranate juice and improving its antioxidant performance during the processing. Therefore, combined technology of vacuum and ultrasound would be a promising method for future food processing.Practical applicationsThis study provides a simple and novel method for protecting the color of pomegranate juice during processing. The combination of vacuum and ultrasound has a certain protective effect on the color of pomegranate juice during processing, and also provides new ideas for color protection research.

Enhancing virus-induced gene silencing efficiency in tea plants (Camellia sinensis L.) and the functional analysis of CsPDS

Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) is an effective technology for gene functional analysis in tea plants, yet its efficiency needs enhancement, particularly in the Qiancha 1 (QC1) cultivar of Camellia sinensis. Employing pTRV1/pTRV2-CsPDS as a vector and leaf albinism rate as a silencing index, this study optimized the VIGS system by examining the effects of vacuum treatment duration, pressure, injection method, and cutting size on silencing efficiency. The results indicate that both injection and vacuum infiltration methods are viable in QC1, with the vacuum method exhibiting superior efficiency. The optimal vacuum infiltration conditions were determined to be 0.8 kPa for approximately 5 min. Phenotypic analysis showed that silencing the CsPDS gene resulted in leaves yellowing to varying degrees. Transcriptome analysis revealed disruptions in various pathways in these tea cuttings with differing levels of coloration, particularly in photosynthetic pigment biosynthesis and nitrogen metabolism. Interestingly, the content of theanine was higher in the cuttings with lower chlorophyll content. Analysis of differential gene expression profile and quantitative real-time PCR confirms that theanine accumulation is primarily due to increased synthesis and reduced degradation. These findings deepen our understanding of the metabolic and molecular mechanisms behind leaf coloration in tea plants.

Thermoforming Vacuum Packaging Influences Fresh Pork Loin Chop Characteristics.

The storage duration of fresh meat products is a contributing factor leading to increased waste and loss at the retail counter. Losses of fresh pork can be linked to packaging methods that do not protect the attributes of color, taste, and odors consumers use in determining wholesome meat. Boneless pork loins (N = 63) were fabricated into 2.54-cm-thick chops and assigned to one of three vacuum treatments (VacA, VacB, VacC) or a fourth polyvinyl chloride overwrap (PVC) treatment to assess objective fresh color, cook loss, Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), and lipid oxidation. Pork chops (n = 882) were evaluated at 5-day intervals (D 0, 5, 10, 15) in a randomized complete block design. Pork chop surface color was lighter (L*; p < 0.0001) when stored in a vacuum compared to PVC-packaged loin chops, regardless of storage duration. Redness (a*) values were greater (p < 0.0001) for loin chops stored in PVC than all other vacuum packaging treatments throughout the entire 15-day display period. Relative values for chroma on PVC-packaged loin chops were greater (p < 0.0001) throughout the simulated retail display period. An interaction of day and packaging treatment (p < 0.0343) occurred for WBSF. Lipid oxidation for pork chops packaged using PVC was significantly greater (p < 0.0001) from Day 10 through the completion of the storage period. Results indicate that vacuum packaging limits the deterioration of fresh pork loin chops, whereas traditional overwrapping expedites the color and lipid oxidation during refrigerated storage.