2-Methyl­sulfanyl-5,6-dihydro-2H-1,3-dithiolo[4,5-b][1,4]dioxin-2-ium tetra­fluoro­borate

The title compound, C6H7O2S3 +·BF4 −, consists of a planar 2-thioxo-1,3-dithiol-4,5-yl unit [maximum deviation from the ring plane = 0.020 (3) Å], with an ethyl­enedi­oxy group fused at the 4,5-positions; the ethyl­enedi­oxy C atoms are disordered over two positions with site-occupancy factors of 0.5. The 1,4-dioxine ring has a twist-chair conformation. Weak cation–anion S⋯F inter­actions [3.022 (4)–3.095 (4) Å] and an S⋯O [3.247 (4) Å] inter­action are present

4-(Pyridin-2-yl)-1,3-dithiol-2-one

In the title compound, C8H5NOS2, the non-H atoms are approximately coplanar [maxium deviation = 0.060 (3) Å]. The dihedral angle between the least-squares planes of the pyridine and 1,3-dithiol-2-one rings is 5.96 (17)°. The crystal packing is stabilized by weak inter­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds and by an S⋯S close contact [3.510 (5) Å]

Preparation and Application of Starch/Polyvinyl Alcohol/Citric Acid Ternary Blend Antimicrobial Functional Food Packaging Films

Ternary blend films were prepared with different ratios of starch/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/citric acid. The films were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), thermogravimetric analysis, as well as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. The influence of different ratios of starch/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/citric acid and different drying times on the performance properties, transparency, tensile strength (TS), water vapor permeability (WVP), water solubility (WS), color difference (ΔE), and antimicrobial activity of the ternary blends films were investigated. The starch/polyvinyl alcohol/citric acid (S/P/C1:1:0, S/P/C3:1:0.08, and S/P/C3:3:0.08) films were all highly transparent. The S/P/C3:3:0.08 had a 54.31 times water-holding capacity of its own weight and its mechanical tensile strength was 46.45 MPa. In addition, its surface had good uniformity and compactness. The S/P/C3:1:0.08 and S/P/C3:3:0.08 showed strong antimicrobial activity to Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli, which were the food-borne pathogenic bacteria used. The freshness test results of fresh figs showed that all of the blends prevented the formation of condensed water on the surface of the film, and the S/P/C3:1:0.08 and S/P/C3:3:0.08 prevented the deterioration of figs during storage. The films can be used as an active food packaging system due to their strong antibacterial effect

Effect of White Kidney Bean Flour on the Rheological Properties and Starch Digestion Characteristics of Noodle Dough

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of adding white kidney bean flour on the quality of noodles. We selected four different proportions of white kidney bean flour (10–40%) in wheat flour to make the noodles, after which the noodles were analysed for their physical and chemical properties. The statistical method of correlation analysis was used in this study. The results showed that the noodles’ sensory and textural characteristics significantly improved after adding white kidney bean flour (p < 0.05). Compared with the control, the noodles’ surface with white kidney bean flour was denser and smoother. Moreover, microstructural observations indicated that the noodles with white kidney bean flour showed a more continuous protein network. The in vitro digestion results showed that the addition of white kidney bean flour reduced the digestibility of the noodles. Low addition of the flour (10–20%) improved the quality of the noodles, whereas high amounts (30–40%) showed the opposite effect. In this study, the optimal amount of white kidney bean powder was found to be 20%

Percutaneous monoplanar screws versus hybrid fixed axial and polyaxial screws in intermediate screw fixation for traumatic thoracolumbar burst fractures: a case–control study

Abstract Background To compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of monoplanar screws (MSs) versus hybrid fixed axial and polyaxial screws (HSs) in percutaneous short-segment intermediate screw fixation (PSISF) for traumatic thoracolumbar burst fractures (TTBFs) in patients without neurologic impairment. Methods A consecutive series of 100 patients with single-segment TTBFs and no neurologic impairment who underwent PSISF with 6 monoplanar screws (MS group) or correct were retrospectively enrolled. The demographic data, radiologic evaluation indicators, perioperative indicators and clinical assessment indicators were analysed between the MS group and HS group. Results The demographic data and perioperative indicators were not significantly different in the two groups (P > 0.05). The postoperative anterior vertebral height ratio (AVHR), kyphosis Cobb angle (KCA), vertebral wedge angle (VWA) and spinal canal encroachment rate (SCER) were significantly improved in both groups (*P  0.05). In the MS group, no internal fixation failure was observed during the follow-up period, but, in the HS group, two cases of internal fixation failure were observed at the last follow-up (one case of rod loosening and one case of screw breakage). Conclusions Both MSs and HSs fixation are effective treatments for TTBFs and have comparable clinical outcomes. In contrast, MSs fixation can improve the correction effect, better improve the SCER, and further reduce correction loss as well as reduce the incidence of instrumentation failure. Therefore, MSs fixation might be a better option for treating TTBFs in patients without neurological deficits

A Novel Recombined Potato virus Y Isolate in China

This study reports the findings of a distinct Potato virus Y (PVY) isolate found in Northeast China. One hundred and ten samples (leaves and tubers) were collected from potato plants showing mosaic symptoms around the city of Harbin in Heilongjiang province of China. The collected tubers were planted and let to grow in a greenhouse. New potato plants generated from these tubers showed similar symptoms, except for one plant. Subsequent serological analyses revealed PVY as the causing agent of the disease. A novel PVY isolate (referred to as HLJ-C-44 in this study) was isolated from this sample showing unique mild mosaic and crisped leaf margin symptoms. The complete genome of this isolate was analyzed and determined. The results showed that HLJ-C-44 is a typical PVY isolate. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that this isolate belongs to the N-Wi strain group of PVY recombinants (PVYN-Wi) and also shared the highest overall sequence identity (nucleotide and amino acid) with other members of this strain group. However, recombination analysis of isolate HLJ-C-44 revealed a recombination pattern that differed from that of other PVYN-Wi isolates. Moreover, biological assays in four different potato cultivars and in Nicotiana tabacum also revealed a different phenotypic response than that of a typical PVYN-Wi isolate. This data, combined, suggest that HLJ-C-44 is a novel PVY recombinant with distinct biological properties.A Novel Recombined Potato virus Y Isolate in ChinapublishedVersio

Quantum correlation of path-entangled two-photon states in waveguide arrays with defects

We study the quantum correlation of path-entangled states of two photons in coupled one-dimensional waveguide arrays with lattice defects. Both off-diagonal and diagonal defects are considered, which show different effects on the quantum correlation of path-entangled two-photon states. Two-photon bunching or anti-bunching effects can be observed and controlled. The two photons are found to have a tendency to bunch at the side lobes with a repulsive off-diagonal defect, and the path-entanglement of the input two-photon state can be preserved during the propagation. We also found that defect modes may play an important role on the two-photon correlation of path-entangled states in the waveguide arrays. Due to the quantum interference effect, intriguing evolution dynamics of the two-photon correlation matrix elements with oscillation frequencies being either twice of or the same as that of a classical light wave, depending on the position of the correlation matrix element, is observed. Our results show that it is possible to manipulate the two-photon correlation properties of path-entangled states in waveguide arrays with lattice defects

DOI: 10.5897/AJB10.2677

Effects of different dietary protein sources on cecal microflora in rat

Simulation Analysis of Limit Operating Specifications for Onshore Spoolable Reinforced Thermoplastic Pipes

Spoolable reinforced plastic line pipes (RTPs), exhibiting a series of advantages such as good flexibility, few joints, long single length, light weight, easy installation, etc., have been widely used in the onshore oil and gas industry such as oil and gas gathering and transportation, high pressure alcohol injection, water injection, sewage treatment, and other fields. However, due to the lack of clear standard specificationof the limit operating properties for RTPs, three typical failure modes, i.e., tensile, flexure, and torsion, frequently occur in terrain changes, construction operation, and subsequent application, which seriously affects the promotion and use of RTPs. In this paper, the stress distribution of a non-bonded polyester fiber reinforced high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe (DN 150, PN 2.5 MPa) was systematically studied by the finite element method (FEM), and then the limit operating values under the axial tensile, coiled bending, and torsion load were determined. The corresponding experiments were conducted to validate the reliability and accuracy of the FEM model. The FEM results showed that the critical strain for axial tensile was 3%, the minimum respooling bend radius was 1016.286 mm, and the limit torsion angle of this RTP was 58.77°, which are very close to the experimental results. These limit values will be useful to establish normative guidelines for field construction and failure prevention of onshore RTP

Molecular Simulation on Permeation Behavior of CH4/CO2/H2S Mixture Gas in PVDF at Service Conditions

Reinforced thermoplastic composite pipes (RTPs) have been widely used for oil and gas gathering and transportation. Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) has the greatest potential as a thermoplastic liner of RTPs due to its excellent thermal and mechanical properties. However, permeation of gases is inevitable in the thermoplastic liner, which may lead to blister failure of the liner and damage the safe operation of the RTPs. In order to clarify the permeation behavior and obtain the permeation mechanism of the mixture gas (CH4/CO2/H2S) in PVDF at the normal service conditions, molecular simulations were carried out by combining the Grand Canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) method and the Molecular Dynamics (MD) method. The simulated results showed that the solubility coefficients of gases increased with the decrease in temperature and the increase in pressure. The adsorption isotherms of all gases were consistent with the Langmuir model. The order of the adsorption concentration for different gases was H2S > CO2> CH4. The isosteric heats of gases at all the actual service conditions were much less than 42 kJ/mol, which indicated that the adsorption for all the gases belonged to the physical adsorption. Both of the diffusion and permeation coefficients increased with the increase in temperature and pressure. The diffusion belonged to Einstein diffusion and the diffusion coefficients of each gas followed the order of CH4 > CO2 > H2S. During the permeation process, the adsorption of gas molecules in PVDF exhibited selective aggregation, and most of them were adsorbed in the low potential energy region of PVDF cell. The mixed-gas molecules vibrated within the hole of PVDF at relatively low temperature and pressure. As the temperature and pressure increase, the gas molecules jumped into the neighboring holes occasionally and then dwelled in the holes, moving around their equilibrium positions