Optimization of ultrasound-assisted extraction of polyphenols from maize filaments by response surface methodology and its identification

Maize filaments (MF) are the outer thread-like part of corn, which are widely used in traditional and official medicine. In the current study, central composite design (CCD) was used to investigate the effect of process variables on polyphenols contents from MF by ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). Results showed that the obtained optimal UAE conditions were as follows: extraction power of 520.01 W, ethanol concentration of 61.08%, and a solvent-to-material ratio of 26.83 mL/g for polyphenols extraction. These experimental values under optimal conditions were consistent with the predicted values with polyphenols content of 7.1±0.015 mg/g. Sixteen phenolic compounds, including gallic acid, catechin, picatechin, hyperoside etc were identified in MF polyphenols extractions by HPLC-MS/MS method. The antioxidant activity of the MF polyphenols extractions were also studied, which showed that MF polyphenols extractions have excellent radical scavenging ability for ABTS radicals, •OH, DPPH radicals and •O2-, and 42.56 ± 1.24% of lipid oxidation inhibition

Role of Scrib and Dlg in anterior-posterior patterning of the follicular epithelium during Drosophila oogenesis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Proper patterning of the follicle cell epithelium over the egg chamber is essential for the <it>Drosophila </it>egg development. Differentiation of the epithelium into several distinct cell types along the anterior-posterior axis requires coordinated activities of multiple signaling pathways. Previously, we reported that <it>lethal(2)giant larvae </it>(<it>lgl</it>), a <it>Drosophila </it>tumor suppressor gene, is required in the follicle cells for the posterior follicle cell (PFC) fate induction at mid-oogenesis. Here we explore the role of another two tumor suppressor genes, <it>scribble </it>(<it>scrib</it>) and <it>discs large </it>(<it>dlg</it>), in the epithelial patterning.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found that removal of <it>scrib </it>or <it>dlg </it>function from the follicle cells at posterior terminal of the egg chamber causes a complete loss of the PFC fate. Aberrant specification and differentiation of the PFCs in the mosaic clones can be ascribed to defects in coordinated activation of the EGFR, JAK and Notch signaling pathways in the multilayered cells. Meanwhile, the clonal analysis revealed that loss-of-function mutations in <it>scrib/dlg </it>at the anterior domains result in a partially penetrant phenotype of defective induction of the stretched and centripetal cell fate, whereas specification of the border cell fate can still occur in the most anterior region of the mutant clones. Further, we showed that <it>scrib </it>genetically interacts with <it>dlg </it>in regulating posterior patterning of the epithelium.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In this study we provide evidence that <it>scrib </it>and <it>dlg </it>function differentially in anterior and posterior patterning of the follicular epithelium at oogenesis. Further genetic analysis indicates that <it>scrib </it>and <it>dlg </it>act in a common pathway to regulate PFC fate induction. This study may open another window for elucidating role of <it>scrib/dlg </it>in controlling epithelial polarity and cell proliferation during development.</p

Multidifferential study of identified charged hadron distributions in ZZ-tagged jets in proton-proton collisions at s=\sqrt{s}=13 TeV

Jet fragmentation functions are measured for the first time in proton-proton collisions for charged pions, kaons, and protons within jets recoiling against a $Z$ boson. The charged-hadron distributions are studied longitudinally and transversely to the jet direction for jets with transverse momentum 20 $< p_{\textrm{T}} < 100$ GeV and in the pseudorapidity range $2.5 < \eta < 4$. The data sample was collected with the LHCb experiment at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.64 fb$^{-1}$. Triple differential distributions as a function of the hadron longitudinal momentum fraction, hadron transverse momentum, and jet transverse momentum are also measured for the first time. This helps constrain transverse-momentum-dependent fragmentation functions. Differences in the shapes and magnitudes of the measured distributions for the different hadron species provide insights into the hadronization process for jets predominantly initiated by light quarks.Comment: All figures and tables, along with machine-readable versions and any supplementary material and additional information, are available at https://cern.ch/lhcbproject/Publications/p/LHCb-PAPER-2022-013.html (LHCb public pages

Study of the B−→Λc+Λˉc−K−B^{-} \to \Lambda_{c}^{+} \bar{\Lambda}_{c}^{-} K^{-} decay

The decay $B^{-} \to \Lambda_{c}^{+} \bar{\Lambda}_{c}^{-} K^{-}$ is studied in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5 $\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ collected by the LHCb experiment. In the $\Lambda_{c}^+ K^{-}$ system, the $\Xi_{c}(2930)^{0}$ state observed at the BaBar and Belle experiments is resolved into two narrower states, $\Xi_{c}(2923)^{0}$ and $\Xi_{c}(2939)^{0}$, whose masses and widths are measured to be $$m(\Xi_{c}(2923)^{0}) = 2924.5 \pm 0.4 \pm 1.1 \,\mathrm{MeV}, \\ m(\Xi_{c}(2939)^{0}) = 2938.5 \pm 0.9 \pm 2.3 \,\mathrm{MeV}, \\ \Gamma(\Xi_{c}(2923)^{0}) = \phantom{000}4.8 \pm 0.9 \pm 1.5 \,\mathrm{MeV},\\ \Gamma(\Xi_{c}(2939)^{0}) = \phantom{00}11.0 \pm 1.9 \pm 7.5 \,\mathrm{MeV},$$ where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic. The results are consistent with a previous LHCb measurement using a prompt $\Lambda_{c}^{+} K^{-}$ sample. Evidence of a new $\Xi_{c}(2880)^{0}$ state is found with a local significance of $3.8\,\sigma$, whose mass and width are measured to be $2881.8 \pm 3.1 \pm 8.5\,\mathrm{MeV}$ and $12.4 \pm 5.3 \pm 5.8 \,\mathrm{MeV}$, respectively. In addition, evidence of a new decay mode $\Xi_{c}(2790)^{0} \to \Lambda_{c}^{+} K^{-}$ is found with a significance of $3.7\,\sigma$. The relative branching fraction of $B^{-} \to \Lambda_{c}^{+} \bar{\Lambda}_{c}^{-} K^{-}$ with respect to the $B^{-} \to D^{+} D^{-} K^{-}$ decay is measured to be $2.36 \pm 0.11 \pm 0.22 \pm 0.25$, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic and the third originates from the branching fractions of charm hadron decays.Comment: All figures and tables, along with any supplementary material and additional information, are available at https://cern.ch/lhcbproject/Publications/p/LHCb-PAPER-2022-028.html (LHCb public pages

Measurement of the ratios of branching fractions R(D∗)\mathcal{R}(D^{*}) and R(D0)\mathcal{R}(D^{0})

The ratios of branching fractions $\mathcal{R}(D^{*})\equiv\mathcal{B}(\bar{B}\to D^{*}\tau^{-}\bar{\nu}_{\tau})/\mathcal{B}(\bar{B}\to D^{*}\mu^{-}\bar{\nu}_{\mu})$ and $\mathcal{R}(D^{0})\equiv\mathcal{B}(B^{-}\to D^{0}\tau^{-}\bar{\nu}_{\tau})/\mathcal{B}(B^{-}\to D^{0}\mu^{-}\bar{\nu}_{\mu})$ are measured, assuming isospin symmetry, using a sample of proton-proton collision data corresponding to 3.0 fb${ }^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity recorded by the LHCb experiment during 2011 and 2012. The tau lepton is identified in the decay mode $\tau^{-}\to\mu^{-}\nu_{\tau}\bar{\nu}_{\mu}$. The measured values are $\mathcal{R}(D^{*})=0.281\pm0.018\pm0.024$ and $\mathcal{R}(D^{0})=0.441\pm0.060\pm0.066$, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. The correlation between these measurements is $\rho=-0.43$. Results are consistent with the current average of these quantities and are at a combined 1.9 standard deviations from the predictions based on lepton flavor universality in the Standard Model.Comment: All figures and tables, along with any supplementary material and additional information, are available at https://cern.ch/lhcbproject/Publications/p/LHCb-PAPER-2022-039.html (LHCb public pages

The Structural Behaviour of Composite Beams in Fire Considering Interface Slip and Uplift Effects

Fire is one of the most devastating disasters in the world. Composite construction in steel and concrete has gained popularity in recent years. The shear connection between the steel joist and the concrete slab is the structural component which enables the composite action to develop. This thesis will carefully investigate the structural behaviour of shear studs and composite beams at elevated temperatures. The major works in this study are as follows: First, push-out tests of shear studs embedded in solid slabs, composite slabs with open trapezoidal steel sheeting and steel bar truss floor slabs at several temperature levels were conducted, and three-dimensional finite element model comprising both thermal and mechanical analysis was developed, and validated with the test results. Based on the analysis on the existing test results and parametric study result, equations were proposed to predict the shear capacity and the load-slip relationship models of shear studs embedded in different slabs at elevated temperatures. Second, fire tests were conducted to study the fire performance of composite beams with steel bar truss floor slabs considering both the beams designed as full and partial shear connection at room temperature. Three-dimensional finite element model comprising both thermal and mechanical analysis was then developed considering the non-linear load-slip relationship of shear studs for the different beam-floor arrangements including solid slabs, composite slabs with steel sheeting perpendicular and parallel to the steel joist, and composite slabs with steel bar truss floor slabs. Then, an extensive parametric study was conducted with the verified model to further study the influence of shear studs. Finally, design suggestions were presented to consider the influence of shear connectors in building applications based on the analysis and comparison between the existing results and design methods in different codes

The Structural Behaviour of Composite Beams in Fire Considering Interface Slip and Uplift Effects

Fire is one of the most devastating disasters in the world. Composite construction in steel and concrete has gained popularity in recent years. The shear connection between the steel joist and the concrete slab is the structural component which enables the composite action to develop. This thesis will carefully investigate the structural behaviour of shear studs and composite beams at elevated temperatures. The major works in this study are as follows: First, push-out tests of shear studs embedded in solid slabs, composite slabs with open trapezoidal steel sheeting and steel bar truss floor slabs at several temperature levels were conducted, and three-dimensional finite element model comprising both thermal and mechanical analysis was developed, and validated with the test results. Based on the analysis on the existing test results and parametric study result, equations were proposed to predict the shear capacity and the load-slip relationship models of shear studs embedded in different slabs at elevated temperatures. Second, fire tests were conducted to study the fire performance of composite beams with steel bar truss floor slabs considering both the beams designed as full and partial shear connection at room temperature. Three-dimensional finite element model comprising both thermal and mechanical analysis was then developed considering the non-linear load-slip relationship of shear studs for the different beam-floor arrangements including solid slabs, composite slabs with steel sheeting perpendicular and parallel to the steel joist, and composite slabs with steel bar truss floor slabs. Then, an extensive parametric study was conducted with the verified model to further study the influence of shear studs. Finally, design suggestions were presented to consider the influence of shear connectors in building applications based on the analysis and comparison between the existing results and design methods in different codes

How Is Educational Gamification Represented in School Curriculum? An Investigation of Chinese Secondary Mathematics Textbooks

Textbooks, as potentially implemented curriculum, play an important role in school education. Earlier studies in mathematics education revealed that teaching using mathematics games had a positive effect on students’ learning. However, how mathematics games are presented in mathematics textbooks has rarely been systematically examined. In this study, we aimed to investigate how mathematics games are presented in school mathematics textbooks in China. We selected three series of Chinese secondary mathematics textbooks (Grades 7–9) and identified 112 mathematics games in total; then, we coded and analyzed the games according to an analysis framework we established for the study. The results showed that, across the three series of textbooks, the distribution of games was inconsistent and, within the same series of textbooks, it was irregular across the different grade levels; in terms of locations and cognitive objectives, most games were presented as exercise questions and the main purpose was to improve students’ problem solving ability. Moreover, most of the games were single player games and there were slightly more competitive games than non-competitive games. The implications of the findings for the design and research of mathematics games in mathematics textbooks are discussed at the end of the study

Hydrolysis and Photolysis Kinetics, and Identification of Degradation Products of the Novel Bactericide 2-(4-Fluorobenzyl)-5-(Methylsulfonyl)-1,3,4-Oxadiazole in Water

Hydrolysis and photolysis kinetics of Fubianezuofeng (FBEZF) in water were investigated in detail. The hydrolysis half-lives of FBEZF depending on pH, initial concentration, and temperature were (14.44 d at pH = 5; 1.60 d at pH = 7), (36.48 h at 1.0 mg L&#8722;1; 38.51 h at 5.0 mg L&#8722;1; and 31.51 h at 10.0 mg L&#8722;1), and (77.02 h at 15 &#176;C; 38.51 h at 25 &#176;C; 19.80 h at 35 &#176;C; and 3.00 h at 45 &#176;C), respectively. The photolysis half-life of FBEZF in different initial concentrations were 8.77 h at 1.0 mg L&#8722;1, 8.35 h at 5.0 mg L&#8722;1, and 8.66 h at 10.0 mg L&#8722;1, respectively. Results indicated that the degradation of FBEZF followed first-order kinetics, as the initial concentration of FBEZF only had a slight effect on the UV irradiation effects, and the increase in pH and temperature can substantially accelerate the degradation. The hydrolysis Ea of FBEZF was 49.90 kJ mol&#8722;1, which indicates that FBEZF belongs to medium hydrolysis. In addition, the degradation products were identified using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with an Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometer. One degradation product was extracted and further analyzed by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, 19F-NMR, and MS. The degradation product was identified as 2-(4-fluorobenazyl)-5-methoxy-1,3,4-oxadiazole, therefore a degradation mechanism of FBEZF in water was proposed. The research on FBEZF can be helpful for its safety assessment and increase the understanding of FBEZF in water environments