Effects of 1-Methylcyclopropene Treatments on Ripening and Quality of Harvested Sapodilla Fruit

Ubrani plodovi šljive sapodilo izloženi su inhibitoru djelovanja etena 1- metilciklopropenu (1-MCP), volumne koncentracije od 0, 40 ili 80 nL/L, tijekom 24 h pri 20 °C. Voće je zatim skladišteno na 20 °C i 85-95 % relativne vlažnosti, pa su zatim procijenjeni njegova kakvoća i karakteristike zrenja. Obrada 1-metilcikloproprenom odgodila je maksimalnu respiraciju, proizvodnju etena i poligalakturonaze za 6 dana. Također je odgodila smanjenje koncentracije vitamina C, titracijske kiselosti i udjela klorofila do kojeg dolazi zrenjem voća. U usporedbi s netretiranim voćem usporena je i promjena udjela čvrste tvari. Primjena 1-metilciklopropena djelotvorna je tehnologija inhibicije zrenja i očuvanja kakvoće ubrane šljive sapodilo.Sapodilla fruits were exposed to the ethylene action inhibitor 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) at 0, 40 or 80 nL/L for 24 h at 20 °C. Fruits were then stored at 20 °C and 85−95 % relative humidity and later assessed for quality and ripening characteristics. 1-MCP treatments delayed the increases in the rates of respiration and ethylene production by 6 days. Treatments also delayed by 6 days the increase in polygalacturonase activity. Decreases in ascorbic acid, titratable acidity and chlorophyll content that are normally seen with ripening were delayed. Changes in the content of soluble solids were also slowed compared to untreated fruit. The application of 1-MCP was an effective technology for ripening inhibition and quality maintenance of harvested sapodilla fruit

Capacitive and resistive response of humidity sensors based on graphene decorated by PMMA and silver nanoparticles

In this paper, we reported comparative study of the humidity characteristics of graphene/silver nanoparticles composite (Gr-AgNps) and graphene/silver nanoparticles/PMMA composite (Gr-AgNps-PMMA) based efficient humidity sensors. Aqueous solution of Gr-AgNps and Gr-AgNps-PMMA was drop casted over interdigitated copper electrodes with 50 μm gap embedded in the substrates in dust free environment. The band gap obtained from the UV-vis spectra for Gr-AgNps and Gr-AgNps-PMMA based humidity sensors was 4.7 and 4.1 eV respectively. The capacitive and resistive humidity response was studied using LCR meter (GW Instek817). Apparent increase in capacitance was observed (100-10,000 nF) with the increase in the humidity percentage (30-95%RH) at lower frequencies for both the sensors. Resistance of the sensors dropped to zero as the humidity level is increased from 30 to 95%RH in the chamber. The devices were tested for real time stability and for fast response/recovery time. Both the devices showed an excellent stability and response by recording their resistance and capacitance respectively. A lagging of RH decreasing response from RH increasing response was observed at 500 Hz frequency for both the sensors depicted from the hysteresis curve. The humidity response of Gr-AgNps was comparatively better than that of the Gr-AgNps-PMMA based humidity sensors

Protection Evaluation of a Five-Gene-Deleted African Swine Fever Virus Vaccine Candidate Against Homologous Challenge

African swine fever virus (ASFV) represents a serious threat to the global swine industry, and there are no safe or commercially available vaccines. Previous studies have demonstrated that inactivated vaccines do not provide sufficient protection against ASFV and that attenuated vaccines are effective, but raise safety concerns. Here, we first constructed a deletion mutant in which EP153R and EP402R gene clusters were knocked out. Based on the deletion mutant, a further deletion from the MGF_360-12L, MGF_360-13L to MGF_360-14L genes was obtained. The five-genes knockout virus was designated as ASFV-ΔECM3. To investigate the efficacy and safety of the ASFV-ΔECM3 virus as a vaccine candidate, the evaluation of the virus was subsequently carried out in pigs. The results showed that the ASFV-ΔECM3 virus could induce homologous protection against the parental isolate, and no significant clinical signs or viremia were observed. These results show that the contiguous deletion mutant, ASFV-ΔECM3 encompassing the EP153R/EP402R and MGF_360-12L/13L/14L genes, could be a potential live-attenuated vaccine candidate for the prevention of ASFV infection

Postoperative myopic shift and visual acuity rehabilitation in patients with bilateral congenital cataracts

BackgroundThis study aimed to explore the postoperative myopic shift and its relationship to visual acuity rehabilitation in patients with bilateral congenital cataracts (CCs).MethodsBilateral CC patients who underwent cataract extraction and primary intraocular lens implantations before 6 years old were included and divided into five groups according to surgical ages (<2, 2–3, 3–4, 4–5, and 5–6 years). The postoperative myopic shift rates, spherical equivalents (SEs), and the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were measured and analyzed.ResultsA total of 1,137 refractive measurements from 234 patients were included, with a mean follow-up period of 34 months. The postoperative mean SEs at each follow-up in the five groups were linearly fitted with a mean R2 = 0.93 ± 0.03, which showed a downtrend of SE with age (linear regression). Among patients with a follow-up of 4 years, the mean postoperative myopic shift rate was 0.84, 0.81, 0.68, 0.24, and 0.28 diopters per year (D/y) in the five age groups (from young to old), respectively. The BCVA of those with a surgical age of <2 years at the 4-year visit was 0.26 (LogMAR), and the mean postoperative myopic shift rate was 0.84 D/y. For patients with a surgical age of 2–6 years, a poorer BCVA at the 4-year visit was found in those with higher postoperative myopic shift rates (r = 0.974, p = 0.026, Pearson’s correlation test).ConclusionPerforming cataract surgery for patients before 2 years old and decreasing the postoperative myopic shift rates for those with a surgical age of 2–6 years may benefit visual acuity rehabilitation

Mouse models of nesprin-related diseases

Nesprins (nuclear envelope spectrin repeat proteins) are a family of multi-isomeric scaffolding proteins. Nesprins form the LInker of Nucleoskeleton-and-Cytoskeleton (LINC) complex with SUN (Sad1p/UNC84) domain-containing proteins at the nuclear envelope, in association with lamin A/C and emerin, linking the nucleoskeleton to the cytoskeleton. The LINC complex serves as both a physical linker between the nuclear lamina and the cytoskeleton and a mechanosensor. The LINC complex has a broad range of functions and is involved in maintaining nuclear architecture, nuclear positioning and migration, and also modulating gene expression. Over 80 disease-related variants have been identified in SYNE-1/2 (nesprin-1/2) genes, which result in muscular or central nervous system disorders including autosomal dominant Emery–Dreifuss muscular dystrophy, dilated cardiomyopathy and autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxia type 1. To date, 17 different nesprin mouse lines have been established to mimic these nesprin-related human diseases, which have provided valuable insights into the roles of nesprin and its scaffold LINC complex in a tissue-specific manner. In this review, we summarise the existing nesprin mouse models, compare their phenotypes and discuss the potential mechanisms underlying nesprin-associated diseases

Optimization of the Brewing Conditions of Shanlan Rice Wine and Sterilization by Thermal and Intense Pulse Light

This study aimed to optimize the brewing conditions of Shanlan rice wine (SRW) and select a suitable sterilization method. The response surface method experiment was used to optimize the brewing process of SRW. LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry) and GC-MS (gas chromatography–mass spectrometry) were used to analyze the physicochemical components, free amino acids, and flavor metabolites of the thermal-sterilized SRW and the SRW sterilized by intense pulsed light (IPL), respectively. Results showed that the optimum fermentation conditions of SRW were as follows: fermentation temperature, 24.5 °C; Qiuqu amount (the traditional yeast used to produce SRW), 0.78%; water content, 119%. Compared with the physicochemical properties of the control, those of the SRWs separately treated with two sterilization methods were slightly affected. The 60 s pulse treatment reduced the content of bitter amino acids, maintained sweet amino acids and umami amino acids in SRW, and balanced the taste of SRW. After pasteurization, the ester content in wine decreased by 90%, and the alcohol content decreased to different degrees. IPL sterilization slightly affected the ester content and increased the alcohol content. Further analysis of the main flavor metabolites showed that 60 s pulse enhanced the important flavor-producing substances of SRW. In conclusion, 60 s pulse is suitable for sterilizing this wine

Effect of the Mixed Inoculation of Lactic Acid Bacteria and Non-<i>Saccharomyces</i> on the Quality and Flavor Enhancement of Fermented Mango Juice

Mango juice (MJ) was co-inoculated with Lactobacillus plantarum + Rhodotorula glutinis or Metschnikowia pulcherrima (LP + RG or LP + MP, respectively) and Lactobacillus casei + Rhodotorula glutinis or Metschnikowia pulcherrima (LC + RG or LC + MP, respectively) to evaluate their effect on the physicochemical characteristics, antioxidant capacity, and aroma compounds of MJ after 72 h of fermentation at 28 °C. Results indicated that among the fermented MJ, that which was fermented with LC + RG yielded the highest content of total acid (15.05 g/L). The pH values of MJ fermented with LC + MP, LC + RG, LP + RG, and LP + MP were 3.36, 3.33, 3.26, and 3.19, respectively, and were lower than that of CK (4.79). The juice fermented with LP + MP culture had the lowest sugar content (73.52 g/L), and those fermented with LP + RG and LP + MP had higher total phenol contents and stronger DPPH radical scavenging activity, ABTS radical scavenging activity, iron-reducing antioxidant capacity, and copper reducing antioxidant capacity than the others. Carotenoids in MJ had varying degrees of degradation after mixed fermentation by using all four combinations. Volatile compounds revealed that the co-fermentation of LP + RG produced increased norisoprenoid aroma compounds. The mixed co-inoculation method is a strategy to contemplate for MJ fermentation, but the modalities of inoculation need further investigation. Success depends on the suitable combination of non-Saccharomyces and lactic acid bacteria and consideration of strain variation