Seismo-ionospheric anomalies in ionospheric TEC and plasma density before the 17 July 2006 M 7.7 south of Java earthquake

Abstract. In this paper, we report significant evidence for preseismic ionospheric anomalies in total electron content (TEC) of the global ionosphere map (GIM) and plasma density appearing on day 2 before the 17 July 2006 M7.7 south of Java earthquake. After distinguishing other anomalies related to the geomagnetic activities, we found a temporal precursor around the epicenter on day 2 before the earthquake (15 July 2006), which agrees well with the spatial variations in latitude–longitude–time (LLT) maps. Meanwhile, the sequences of latitude–time–TEC (LTT) plots reveal that the TECs on epicenter side anomalously decrease and lead to an anomalous asymmetric structure with respect to the magnetic equator in the daytime from day 2 before the earthquake. This anomalous asymmetric structure disappears after the earthquake. To further confirm these anomalies, we studied the plasma data from DEMETER satellite in the earthquake preparation zone (2046.4 km in radius) during the period from day 45 before to day 10 after the earthquake, and also found that the densities of both electron and total ion in the daytime significantly increase on day 2 before the earthquake. Very interestingly, O+ density increases significantly and H+ density decreases, while He+ remains relatively stable. These results indicate that there exists a distinct preseismic signal (preseismic ionospheric anomaly) over the epicenter

Formation of Aldehyde and Ketone Compounds during Production and Storage of Milk Powder

Certain aldehyde and ketone compounds can be used as indicators, at a molecular level, of the oxidized flavor of milk powder instead of sensory evaluation. This study investigated the formation of aldehyde and ketone compounds as affected by the heat-related processing and storage of milk powder. The compounds were extracted by solid phase microextraction fiber and determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. In the results, higher contents of hexanal, 2-heptanone, octanal and 3-octen-2-one were detected in concentrated milk and fresh milk powders than in raw milk and heated milk. The levels of these compounds increased with increasing time of storage of milk powder. Meanwhile, the DPPH radical scavenging activity decreased and peroxide value increased during the production and storage of milk powder. In addition, the pore volume distribution of milk powder particle was determined by nitrogen isotherm adsorption. The porosity of milk powder was significantly correlated to the changes of aldehyde and ketone compounds during storages periods of 3 months (r > 0.689, <em>p </em>< 0.05) and 6 months (r > 0.806, <em>p</em> < 0.01). Therefore attention should be paid to the detectable aldehyde and ketone molecules to control the oxidized flavor, which was influenced by pre-heating as well as concentration and drying during milk powder production

Formation of Aldehyde and Ketone Compounds during Production and Storage of Milk Powder

Certain aldehyde and ketone compounds can be used as indicators, at a molecular level, of the oxidized flavor of milk powder instead of sensory evaluation. This study investigated the formation of aldehyde and ketone compounds as affected by the heat-related processing and storage of milk powder. The compounds were extracted by solid phase microextraction fiber and determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. In the results, higher contents of hexanal, 2-heptanone, octanal and 3-octen-2-one were detected in concentrated milk and fresh milk powders than in raw milk and heated milk. The levels of these compounds increased with increasing time of storage of milk powder. Meanwhile, the DPPH radical scavenging activity decreased and peroxide value increased during the production and storage of milk powder. In addition, the pore volume distribution of milk powder particle was determined by nitrogen isotherm adsorption. The porosity of milk powder was significantly correlated to the changes of aldehyde and ketone compounds during storages periods of 3 months (r > 0.689, p 0.806, p < 0.01). Therefore attention should be paid to the detectable aldehyde and ketone molecules to control the oxidized flavor, which was influenced by pre-heating as well as concentration and drying during milk powder production

Production of Volatile Compounds in Reconstituted Milk Reduced-Fat Cheese and the Physicochemical Properties as Affected by Exopolysaccharide-Producing Strain

The application of the exopolysaccharide-producing strains for improving the texture and technical properties of reduced-fat cheese looks very promising. Streptococcus thermophilus TM11 was evaluated for production of reduced-fat cheese using reconstituted milk powder (CRMP). The physicochemical analysis of fresh and stored cheeses showed that this strain slightly increased moisture content resulting in cheese with higher yield and lower protein content compared to the direct acidified cheese. The volatiles of cheese were determined by SPME and GC equipped with a mass spectrometer. The results indicated that the major compounds included aldehydes, ketones and acids, whereas, alcohols and branched-chain aldehydes that contribute to exciting and harsh flavors were not found in CRMP. By the textural profile analysis, we found the cheese made with S. thermophilus TM11 had lower cohesiveness, resilience and higher adhesiveness than the direct acidified cheese, and had similar hardness. Further, S. thermophilus TM11 greatly changed the protein matrix with more opened cavities according to observation by scanning electron microscopy. Consequently, use of S. thermophilus TM11 could endow CRMP with the novel and suitable flavor properties and improved texture quality

Solving the Maximum Independent Set Problem based on Molecule Parallel Supercomputing

The maximum independent set Problem is to find a biggest vertex independent set in a given undirected graph. It is a vitally important NP problem in graph theory and applied mathematics, having numerous real life applications. It can be difficultly solved by the electronic computer in exponential level time. Simultaneity in previous studies DNA molecular computation usually be used to solve NP-complete continuous path search problems (for example HPP, traveling salesman problem), rarely for NP problems with discrete vertex or path solutions result, such as the maximum independent set problem, graph coloring problem and so on. In this paper, we present a new algorithm for solving the maximum independent set problem with DNA molecular operations. For an undirected graph with n vertices, We reasonably design fixed length DNA strands representing the vertices and edges of graph, take appropriate steps and get the solutions of the problem in proper length range using O(n2) time. We extend the application of DNA molecular operations and simultaneity simplify the complexity of the computation

Demand and Development of New Generation of Migrant Workers in Hebei Province

A field investigation was conducted on the new generation of migrant workers in Hebei Province to understand their present situation and characteristics, based on which countermeasures and suggestions were put forward to improve the survival and development of the new generation of migrant workers

Effets de la protéine acide du colostrum bovin sur la perte osseuse et les indices hémobiochimiques chez le rat.

At present, researchers all over the world focus on the methods to prevent and cure osteoporosis. Many reports have shown that bovine milk and its basic proteins, and bovine colostrums (BC) and their extracts have positive effects on bone growth of human beings or experimental rats, such as increasing bone mineral density (BMD) and promoting calcium absorption. However, to our best knowledge, the effects of acid proteins from BC (BCAP) on bone properties have not been reported, and the effect on the potential hazard on blood lipids of rats has not been reported. This study investigated the effect of BCAP on bone loss in aged ovariectomized (OVX) rats and the hemobiochemistry parameters (HP) in serum. Forty-eight female Sprague-Dawley rats of clean grade were ovariectomized and another 12 rats received a sham operation. The OVX rats were randomly separated into four groups, i.e. OVX control, OVX low dose (0.04 g$\cdot$d$^{-1}$), OVX medium dose (0.20 g$\cdot$d$^{-1}$), and OVX high dose (0.40 g$\cdot$d$^{-1}$). BCAP were applied in rat diet for 12 weeks and the rats were gavaged once a day. The effects of BCAP on HP, calcium content (CC), and BMD of femur were determined using biochemical analysis, atomic absorption spectrophotometry, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results showed that BCAP could increase the femur weight/length. CC of femurs in rats with BCAP were significantly higher than those of shamoperated group and model control group. BCAP increased the BMD of femur. However, BCAP at a low dosage exhibited higher activity than that at a medium or high dosage. BCAP had no particular effects on the HP of rats. It is concluded that BCAP at dose $<$ 0.04  g$\cdot$d$^{-1}$ can prevent osteoporosis caused by bone loss due to estrogen reduction in OVX rats, and BCAP (0.04–0.40 g$\cdot$d$^{-1}$) has no potential hazard on blood lipids of rats under present experimental condition.La recherche de méthodes de prévention et de traitement de l'ostéoporose fait actuellement l'objet d'études partout dans le monde. De nombreuses publications ont montré que le lait de vache et ses protéines basiques, le colostrum bovin et ses extraits, ont un effet positif sur la croissance osseuse de l'Homme ou des rats, en accroissant la densité minérale osseuse et en favorisant l'absorption du calcium. Cependant, à notre connaissance, les effets des protéines acides du colostrum bovin (PACB) sur les propriétés des os n'ont jamais été rapportés, pas plus que l'effet sur le risque potentiel sur les lipides du sang chez le rat. Cette étude a porté sur l'effet des PACB sur la perte osseuse chez des rattes âgées ovariectomisées (OVX) et sur les paramètres hémobiochimiques du sérum. Des rattes Sprague-Dawley en bon état ont été soit ovariectomisées (48), soit opérées fictivement (12). Les rattes OVX ont été séparées aléatoirement en 4 groupes : OVX contrôle, OVX faible dose (0,04 g$\cdot$j$^{-1}$), OVX dose moyenne (0,20 g$\cdot$j$^{-1}$) et OVX dose élevée (0,40 g$\cdot$j$^{-1}$). Les PACB ont été introduites dans leur régime alimentaire pendant 12 semaines sous forme de gavage une fois par jour. Les effets des PACB sur les paramètres hémobiochimiques, teneur en calcium et densité minérale osseuse du fémur ont été déterminés par analyse biochimique, spectrophotométrie d'absorption atomique et absorptiométrie biénergique à rayons X. Les résultats ont montré que les PACB pouvaient augmenter le rapport poids/longueur du fémur. Les teneurs en calcium des fémurs de rattes avec PACB étaient significativement plus élevées que celles du groupe opéré fictivement et du groupe de contrôle. Les PACB augmentaient la densité minérale osseuse du fémur. Cependant, les PACB à faible dose avaient une activité supérieure à celle des doses moyennes et élevées. Les PACB n'avaient pas d'effet particulier sur les paramètres hémobiochimiques des rattes. On en conclut que les PACB à doses inférieures à 0,04 g$\cdot$j$^{-1}$ peuvent prévenir l'ostéoporose provoquée par la perte osseuse due à la réduction des œstrogènes chez les rattes ovariectomisées, et que des doses de PACB de 0,04 à 0,40 g$\cdot$j$^{-1}$ ne présentent pas de risque pour les lipides du sang des rattes dans ces conditions expérimentales

Comparison of ULF electric field recorded by ground-based stations in China and a low-altitude satellite

The correlation and synchronization between ground-based and space-based electric field in calm period, is the basis for a comprehensive study of earthquake monitoring. However, it is difficult to study their relevance because of large dissimilarities on data records. The DC-ULF electric field recorded by the DEMETER satellite and the geo-electric field observed in ground-based stations in China were comprehensively analyzed in this paper. The results show that the ionospheric electric field after removing the additional electric field caused by the satellite motion in the magnetic field has a stable annual variation trend; both the annual variation trend and the amplitude of ionospheric electric field above different locations in China are similar. The synchronous, corresponding and similar significant annual variation trends of both ionospheric electric field and geo-electric field in the same direction and with same frequency were found above some locations. The trend displays higher value in summer and lower value in winter. The Sq (Solar quiet) current system is the main source for these phenomena. It is noticed that the shapes and amplitude of geo-electric field for different stations are different, largely due to their individual underground layer conductivity, water level and so on. It is of great significance to explore the correlation and consistency between ground-based and space-based data in order to recognize the anomalies related to the seismic activity and to understand the LAI (Lithosphere-Atmosphere-Ionosphere) coupling mechanism

Whole Peptidoglycan Extracts from the Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei M5 Strain Exert Anticancer Activity In Vitro

The Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei M5 strain exerted potential anticancer activity through the cell wall. In this study, whole peptidoglycan (WPG) was extracted from the Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei M5 strain and was evaluated for anticancer effects as well as its properties. SDS-PAGE analysis confirmed the presence of WPG with dominant bands of approximately 14.4 kDa. Further analysis revealed that the amino acids present in the WPG consisted of alanine, glycine, glutamic acid, and lysine in a molar ratio of approximately 8 : 5 : 3 : 3.5. In addition, the cell viability of HT-29 cells with WPG addition was investigated with methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) and trypan blue exclusion (TBE) assays, and cell apoptosis was analyzed with a transmission electron microscope, flow cytometry, and semiquantitative RT-PCR. These results showed that WPG exerted cytotoxic effects on colon cancer HT-29 cells in a dose-dependent manner and upregulated proapoptotic genes, while downregulating antiapoptotic genes. The gene expression study definitively revealed that WPG induced a mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway