Melatonin maintains the storage quality of fresh-cut Chinese water chestnuts by regulating phenolic and reactive oxygen species metabolism

Fresh-cut Chinese water chestnuts (CWCs) are prone to quality deterioration during storage, which does not meet consumer demand. In this study, the effect of exogenous melatonin (5 mM) on the quality and potential mechanisms in fresh-cut CWC was investigated. The results showed that melatonin treatment alleviated the cut-surface discoloration of CWCs. Not only did this treatment significantly slow down the increase in browning degree and b* as well as the decrease in L*, but also significantly delayed the loss of weight and total soluble solids. Further investigations indicated that melatonin-treated fresh-cut CWCs exhibited significantly lower total phenolics and soluble quinones and suppressed the activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, polyphenol oxidase, and peroxidase. Meanwhile, when fresh-cut CWCs were treated with melatonin, the total flavonoid concentration was significantly decreased compared to the control. Additionally, melatonin significantly inhibited the accumulation of H2O2 and malondialdehyde (MDA) as well as enhanced the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase by promoting the production of O2 -·. In summary, melatonin treatment may delay the surface discoloration of fresh-cut CWCs by inhibiting phenolic compound metabolism and improving antioxidant capacity, thereby effectively maintaining the quality, and prolonging the shelf life of fresh-cut CWCs.

SOLITARY FIBROUS TUMOR OF PROSTATE – A CASE REPORT

Solitary Fibrous Tumor (SFT) of prostate is an unusual mesenchymal neoplasm. We report SFT in a 62 year-old man which was clinically misdiagnosed as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The specimen of surgically resected two prostate mass, we received were solid grey-white nodular on cut surface. Based on histopathological ndings and IHC assessment, a diagnosis of SFT was made. In addition, we review the literature and discuss the challenging issues of misdiagnosis. The case is presented in view of its rarity.

Severe pulmonary fascioloidosis in a wild Mouflon (Ovis musimon) - a case report

Summary A wild male mouflon (Ovis musimon) was shot due to the observed weakness. Necropsy revealed consolidated lungs and traces of black pigment and fibrin on the liver. On the cut surface, a juvenile fl uke was found in the lungs, while traces of destroyed fl ukes’ migratory channels were found in the liver. F. magna infection in both, wild and domestic ruminants, causes three types of species-specific host-parasite interactions; definitive, dead-end and aberrant. mouflon are classifi ed as aberrant hosts and here we report unsuccessful migration of a juvenile fl uke that led to a severe pneumonia.

Output Variation of Trigger Pump Sprayers used for Individual Plant Treatments

Individual plant treatment (IPT) techniques (e.g., basal bark, cut stump, hack and squirt) are used for woody invasive plant management and often rely on small trigger pump spray bottles as an economical and efficient way to deliver an herbicide to the target species. Worldwide, plastic suppliers produce many models and designs with a wide range of uses including pesticide application. However, spray bottle performance has rarely been examined in relation to IPT techniques for operational invasive plant management. We tested ten commonly available spray bottles for trigger output and variation over repeated strokes. We also examined sustained trigger sprayer performance over a six-week period for spray bottles containing water or basal oil carriers, blended with amine and ester formulations of triclopyr, respectively. In the first study, we found significant differences in spray output per stroke between almost every bottle tested. Almost all spray bottle brands yielded outputs greater than 1.0 ml per stroke which exceeds the maximum application amount specified for hack and squirt. Several bottles produced an output of greater than 2.5 ml per stroke. In the second study, the output per stroke was reduced for basal oil mixes, with significant reductions measured for two brands by 21 days and for all three brands tested by 42 days after mixing. These results indicate that consumer-grade trigger sprayers are likely to depreciate rapidly with routine operational use without proper hygiene maintenance. Even then it is likely that these application devices may need to be replaced several times annually. Trigger pump spray bottles are an economical and practical solution for remote field operation and volunteer weed control activities. These sprayers are most suitable for spray-to-wet techniques such as basal bark and cut surface treatments but may potentially be less suited for hack and squirt application which often requires sub-ml precision.

Modifying Geopolymer Wettability by Plasma Treatment and Fly Ash

This paper deals with investigation of changes in geopolymer wettability with increasing mass fraction of high-carbon fly ash and surface treatment by cold atmospheric plasma (CAP). In this study, multiple samples of geopolymers were prepared, including those with 5% and 10% of high-carbon fly ash from coal-fired power station. Wettability of samples was then measured before and after plasma treatment, both on surface and cut surface. While addition of fly ash only had low effect on the wettability, as in most cases, it only lowered the initial contact angle without speeding up the speed of soaking for compact geopolymer and actually slowed the soaking for foamed geopolymer, plasma treatment had significant impact and made the geopolymer hydrophobic.

A Study on Surface Roughness when Milling C45 Steel

In this paper, a study is presented on the milling process of C45 steel by face milling cutters. An experimental process was performed according to an experimental matrix constructed by the Box-Behnken method. At each experiment, three cutting parameters were changed, namely cutting speed, feed rate, and depth of cut. Surface roughness has been selected as a parameter to evaluate the milling process. Analysis of experimental results has determined the influence of cutting parameters as well as their interactions on surface roughness. Two regression models for surface roughness have been proposed. In which one model uses the Johnson transformation. These two models were used to predict the surface roughness and then compared with the experimental results. The results show that the model using the Johnson transformation has higher accuracy than the model not using the data transformation.

Peripheral pure ground-glass opacity: segmentectomy versus wedge resection

Introduction Sublobar resection has been widely accepted for treating pure ground-glass opacities (GGOs). As GGOs have good prognosis, preserving postoperative pulmonary function is the major concern in surgery. No studies have yet compared the success rates of pulmonary function reservation between segmentectomy and wedge resection. Method The three-dimensional rebuild of computed tomography (CT) images was performed, the segmentectomy and wedge resection of the GGO in the target segment were simulated, and the area of cut surface was measured, which was important data for successful postoperative pulmonary recruitment maneuvers. Result With equal volumes of tissue removed, segmentectomy and wedge resection showed similar surface area loss for RS4 and RS5, followed by LS7 + 8, LS6 and LS1 + 2 segments. Compared with other segments, wedge resection performed in RS10, LS3, LS10, RS9 and RS7 may lead to a loss of lot more surface area than segmentectomy. Conclusion Wedge resection is suggested for segments RS4, RS5, LS1 + 2 and LS7 + 8, whereas segmentectomy is advised for segments RS1, LS4 + 5 and RS2. Meanwhile, deep wedge resection should be avoided for segments RS8, RS7, RS10, LS3, LS10. RS9 and LS9, in order to preserve a larger lung surface area.