Thermal dependencies of fruit puree density

Density is among the key properties of liquid food media, affecting homogenisation and dispersion. The work aimed to study the temperature effect on fruit puree density, determine temperature constants and grade purees by density. The study included apple, pear and cherry plum purees. Pycnometric densities were measured at 20, 30, 40 and 50ºC temperatures. Different media were shown to vary in the density reduction rate at increasing measurement temperatures. The correlation coefficient was strongly dependent on the reference (baseline) density and extremely — on temperature coefficient. Correlation dynamics modelling of elevating temperature revealed the slope vs. temperature coefficient pairwise correlation to monotonously increase starting from very high baseline values of >0.999. The relative slope vs. baseline density pairwise correlation coefficient decreased monotonously from 0.9032. It was additionally found that the media density grading is temperature-dependent. Thus, the descending series was pear–apple–cherry plum at 0–+24.68ºC, pear–cherry plum–apple at +24.68–+84.34ºC, cherry plum–pear–apple at +84.34–+174.31ºC and cherry plum–apple–pear at ≥+174.31ºC. For three study media, the number of temperature ranges inducing puree density gradients was 4. This approach to study thermal impact on the density of food fluids is generally acknowledged and can be successfully applied in the areas, where physical density and its comparative assessment are substantive.

Controlling foamability of polypropylene/γ-irradiated ethylene acrylic elastomer blends by extent of crosslinking and domain microstructure of elastomer

Foams of polypropylene/elastomer blends can often lead to softer foams which may not be desirable every time. Incorporating rigidity to the foams can often be made possible by preferentially crosslinking the elastomer phase prior to blending. Although foamability of polypropylene/elastomer blends has been understood in the scientific community, the influence of the extent of crosslinking in the elastomer phase is not yet understood well. The purpose of this investigation is to identify the influence of the extent of elastomer crosslinking and the blend morphological attributes (achieved by varying screw speed during melt mixing) on foamability of polypropylene/partially crosslinked elastomer blends. Crosslinking of ethylene-acrylic elastomer is carried out using gamma radiation with several doses (0, 12.5, 25, 50 kGy) before melt blending and, subsequently, 10 wt.% of the irradiated elastomers (prior optimized) are mixed with polypropylene in a micro-compounder at three different screw speeds. The microstructure development in blends is characterized by scanning electron microscopy. Frequency sweep rheological analysis is done for selected blends to identify the ease of foamability among the series of blends. Foaming of blends is done with supercritical carbon dioxide in batch mode at three different temperatures. The density reduction along with the microcellular morphology development of blends with foaming is analyzed with the screw speed, the extent of crosslinking, and foaming temperature; furthermore, the individual input parameters (the elastomer domain size, controlled by the screw speed and the extent of crosslinking, controlled by gamma radiation dose) are optimized based on the foam morphology. A uniform and good foamability were achieved at 155 and 160°C for blends with elastomers, irradiated at 12.5 and 25 kGy radiation doses. The lowest density foam (0.37 g/cc) was obtained for polypropylene with 12.5 kGy irradiated crosslinked elastomer mixed at 200 rpm at 160°C foaming temperature. The final elastomer domain dispositions within the foam morphologies are characterized and the plausible foaming mechanism is proposed.

INVESTIGATION OF POSSIBILITY OF THE MISFIT DISLOCATION DENSITY REDUCTION IN GE / SI FILMS WITH A BUFFER LAYER

В работе исследована возможность улучшения качества гетероэпитаксиальных структур Ge / Si с буферным слоем. Показано, что при использовании подготовительного слоя, состоящего из наноостровков, зарощенных низкотемпературным буферным слоем, возможно проявление так называемого эффекта аннигиляции дислокаций несоответствия в объеме буферного слоя Buf, что значительно улучшает приборное качество получаемых структур. Представлена зависимость морфологии поверхности слоя чистого Ge на буфере от времени роста наноостровков в интерфейсе Si / Buf . Выявлены оптимальные технологические параметры роста наноостровков для получения слоя Ge с минимальной значением шероховатости. Наилучших результатов удалось достичь при времени осаждения наноостровков 2 мин. При этом была достигнута минимальное значение шероховатости поверхности, равное 78 нм. Показано, что при дальнейшем увеличении размеров наноостровков, процесс аннигиляции дефектов замедляется, и рост низкотемпературного буферного слоя сменяется трехмерным островковым ростом, что увеличивает перепады рельефа поверхности выращиваемого слоя. The possibility of improving the quality of Ge / Si heteroepitaxial structures with a buffer layer is investigated. It is shown that when using a preparatory layer consisting of nanostructures overgrown with a low-temperature buffer layer, it is possible to manifest the so-called effect of annihilation of the misfit dislocations in the bulk of the buffer layer Buf , which significantly improves the quality of the resulting structures. The dependence of the morphology of the surface of the pure Ge layer on the buffer on the growth time of nanostructures in the Si / Buf interface is presented. The optimal technological parameters of the growth of nanostructures for obtaining a Ge layer with a minimum roughness value are revealed. The best results were achieved when the deposition time of nanostructures was 2 min. At the same time, the minimum surface roughness value of 78 nm was achieved. It is shown that with a further increase in the size of the nanostructures, the process of annihilation of defects slows down, and the growth of the low-temperature buffer layer is replaced by a three-dimensional island growth, which increases the differences in the relief of the surface of the grown layer.

Influence of Postemergence Dicamba/Glyphosate Timing and Inclusion of Acetochlor as a Layered Residual on Weed Control and Soybean Yield

Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® [glyphosate- and dicamba-resistant (DR)] soybean is a novel trait option for postemergence (POST) control of herbicide-resistant broadleaf weeds in soybean. With increased use of labeled dicamba products POST in DR soybean and recommendations to include a soil-residual herbicide POST (e.g., layered residual approach), research on how combinations of these approaches influence weed control, weed seed production, and soybean grain yield is warranted. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of (1) flumioxazin applied preemergence (PRE) followed by (fb) dicamba plus glyphosate applied POST at different crop developmental stages and (2) acetochlor POST as a layered residual approach on weed control, weed seed production, and soybean yield to determine the optimal POST timing in DR soybean. A field study was conducted in Wisconsin at three sites in 2018 and four sites in 2019 to evaluate flumioxazin (43.4 g ai ha−1, WDG 51%) PRE fb dicamba (560 g ae ha−1, SL) plus glyphosate (1,101 g ae ha−1, SL) POST in DR soybean at three stages: early-POST (EPOST, V1-V2), mid-POST (MPOST, V3-V4), and late-POST (LPOST, V5-V6/R1) with or without a soil-residual herbicide POST (acetochlor, 1,262 g ai ha−1, ME). Weed community composition was site-specific; difficult-to-control broadleaf species included giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida L.) and waterhemp [Amaranthus tuberculatus (Moq.) J.D. Sauer]. Dicamba plus glyphosate applied MPOST and LPOST provided greater control, weed biomass reduction, and density reduction of giant ragweed and waterhemp when compared with EPOST treatments. Giant ragweed and waterhemp had not reached 100% cumulative emergence at EPOST, and plants that emerged after EPOST produced seed. There was some benefit to including acetochlor as a layered residual at EPOST as indicated by a residual by POST timing interaction for waterhemp density reduction. Complete waterhemp control was not attained at one site-year. For remaining site-years, dicamba plus glyphosate applied MPOST (V3-V4) provided season-long weed control, reduced weed seed production, and optimized soybean grain yield compared with other POST treatments. Results highlight the importance of timely POST applications and suggest utilization of a POST layered residual needs to be timed appropriately for the window of active weed species emergence.

Retinal and Choriocapillary Vascular Changes in Early Stages of Multiple Sclerosis: A Prospective Study

Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA) abnormalities occur in multiple sclerosis (MS) over the course of the disease. OCTA investigations at early MS stages are lacking. We aimed to investigate vessel density in macular and papillary regions over two years after an initial demyelinating event (IDE). Vessel density was analyzed in superficial, deep, choriocapillaris and radial peripapillary plexus at baseline, and after one and two years. We also evaluated structural OCT parameter changes of the ganglion cell complex (GCC) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL). We evaluated 30 eyes from 15 IDE patients (7 females, 8 males, mean age 28.4 ± 9.6 years) and 30 eyes from 15 healthy controls. After 2 years, we reported in the IDE group a reduced vessel density in the superficial capillary plexus, deep capillary plexus and radial peripapillary capillary plexus with respect to the baseline (coeff. β = −2.779, p = 0.013; coeff. β = −4.055, p = 0.018 and coeff. β = −2.687, p ≤ 0.001; respectively), while GCC and RNFL thicknesses did not change. Vessel density reduction was not associated with an expanded disability status scale (EDSS) change, relapse occurrence or magnetic resonance imaging activity. The analysis of healthy controls did not reveal any impairment in OCT and OCTA parameters over 2 years of follow-up. Retinal vascular loss occurs in patients with an IDE independently from clinical and radiological disease activity. Retinal vessel density could represent a novel early biomarker to monitor the MS pathological burden.

Evaluation of Density Reduction of Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes and Biosecurity of the Use of a Paint Containing Propoxur in Selected Houses in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico

This study investigated the development of Aedes aegypti density in houses of the urban locality of Poblado Miguel Alemán Valdes, in the Sonora state of Mexico, after application of 1% propoxur paint as full wall coverage (IP) and targeted indoor painting (IP 1m) in comparison to IRS with propoxur 70% WP (full wall coverage). The 1% propoxur paint was applied by the homeowners by brushing and rolling at the recommended dose of 1L/8 m², equivalent to 1.5 g a.i./m2, while IRS was conducted by professionals with Propoxur 70% WP at a dose of 1 g a.i./m2. Adult mosquito surveys were conducted in a random sample of houses in each block one week before the interventions and at week 1, month 1 to 4, month 6, month 9 and month 12 post-interventions. All three propoxur based treatments provided similar reductions (43.7%, 44.9% and 41.3% for IP, IP 1m and IRS respectively) in the fraction of houses positive in female Aedes aegypti resting indoor and outdoor as one year average of 8 follow up surveys. Indoor resting density of Aedes females during the one-year evaluation was reduced by 77.5% through IP followed by IP 1m with 64.2% reduction and 30% reduction with IRS. Culex mosquitoes’ interior density was affected as well by the insecticide treatments with similar average reductions for IP 1m (50.0%) and IRS (57.8%) in comparison with control. Aedes breeding was impacted by the insecticide paint in similar extent for both interventions, expressed by a substantial reduction of the House Index (20.1% IP, 31.2% IP 1m) and especially the Container Index (51.8% IP, 61.7% IP 1m) during the one-year surveys in comparison to control. In contrast, IRS treated block experienced an increase in both indexes. However, despite IP and IP 1m impacted in Aedes adult and immature indexes with noticeable reductions, the differences in all cases were not significative among the different insecticide treatments. The low sample size and mosquito population levels may have influenced the statistical outcomes. More than 80% of the interviewed residents were satisfied with the effectiveness of the paint and IRS treatments. The determination of the blood cholinesterase activity of tested individuals after the use of the carbamate paint and IRS in this study did not exceed acceptable inhibition limits. This study suggests that the application of propoxur paint by homeowners as full house coverage or as targeted indoor painting can be a safe and accepted intervention method for density reduction of Aedes aegypti populations in urban environments.

Southeastern Tropical Atlantic Changing From Subtropical to Tropical Conditions

A warming and freshening trend of the mixed layer in the upper southeastern tropical Atlantic Ocean (SETA) is observed by the Argo float array during the time period of 2006–2020. The associated ocean surface density reduction impacts upper-ocean stratification that intensified by more than 30% in the SETA region since 2006. The initial typical subtropical stratification with a surface salinity maximum is shifting to more tropical conditions characterized by warmer and fresher surface waters and a subsurface salinity maximum. During the same period isopycnal surfaces in the upper 200 m are shoaling continuously. Observed wind stress changes reveal that open ocean wind curl-driven upwelling increased, however, partly counteracted by reduced coastal upwelling due to weakened alongshore southerly winds. Weakening southerly winds might be a reason why tropical surface waters spread more southward reaching further into the SETA region. The mixed layer warming and freshening and associated stratification changes might impact the marine ecosystem and pelagic fisheries in the Angolan and northern Namibian upwelling region.

Cost-Effectiveness of Osteoporosis Screening in Women Over 40-Year-Old

Osteoporosis is a disease recognized by bone density reduction and is particularly common among older women, which imposes them to fractures. The evidence shows that if do no serious conflict with this issue, in the far little future, huge costs will be imposed on individuals, families, and the country. In this study, we studied the cost-effectiveness of osteoporosis screening in women over 40 years of age in Shiraz in 2016. This cross-sectional study was performed on 240 persons who were screened and 240 non-screened persons in the bone mineral density ward of Shiraz Namazi Hospital. The costs were identified and from the perspective of the insurer and the payer, which included only direct health care costs. To measure the effectiveness, the use of indicators as quality-adjusted life-years (QALY), the expected cost and effectiveness, and the Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio were calculated. The results showed that non-screening is the best strategy, given that the amount of ICER was obtained at $38484.56 and the threshold. As a result, the non-screening method compared to screening is cost-effective. The relevant authorities and proficients should prevent the progression of disease complications and consequently prevent the increase of the disease cost and improve the quality of life of the patients.

In vivo detection of damage in multiple sclerosis cortex and cortical lesions using NODDI

ObjectiveTo characterise in vivo the microstructural abnormalities of multiple sclerosis (MS) normal-appearing (NA) cortex and cortical lesions (CLs) and their relations with clinical phenotypes and disability using neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI).MethodsOne hundred and seventy-two patients with MS (101 relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), 71 progressive multiple sclerosis (PMS)) and 62 healthy controls (HCs) underwent a brain 3T MRI. Brain cortex and CLs were segmented from three-dimensional T1-weighted and double inversion recovery sequences. Using NODDI on diffusion-weighted sequence, intracellular volume fraction (ICV_f) and Orientation Dispersion Index (ODI) were assessed in NA cortex and CLs with default or optimised parallel diffusivity for the cortex (D//=1.7 or 1.2 µm2/ms, respectively).ResultsThe NA cortex of patients with MS had significantly lower ICV_f versus HCs’ cortex with both D// values (false discovery rate (FDR)-p <0.001). CLs showed significantly decreased ICV_f and ODI versus NA cortex of both HCs and patients with MS with both D// values (FDR-p ≤0.008). Patients with PMS versus RRMS had significantly decreased NA cortex ICV_f and ODI (FDR-p=0.050 and FDR-p=0.032) with only D//=1.7 µm2/ms. No CL microstructural differences were found between MS clinical phenotypes. MS NA cortex ICV_f and ODI were significantly correlated with disease duration, clinical disability, lesion burden and global and regional brain atrophy (r from −0.51 to 0.71, FDR-p from <0.001 to 0.045).ConclusionsA significant neurite loss occurs in MS NA cortex. CLs show a further neurite density reduction and a reduced ODI suggesting a simplification of neurite complexity. NODDI is relevant to investigate in vivo the heterogeneous pathology affecting the MS cortex.

Zika virus infection during development impairs the formation of corpus callosum by disturbing axon guidance and growth of callosal neurons.

Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS) is a set of birth defects caused by Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy. Microcephaly is its main feature, but other brain abnormalities are found in CZS patients, such as ventriculomegaly, brain calcifications, and dysgenesis of the corpus callosum. Many studies have focused on microcephaly, but it remains unknown how ZIKV infection leads to callosal malformation. To tackle this issue, we infected mouse embryos in utero with Brazilian ZIKV and found that they are born with a reduction in callosal area and density of callosal neurons. ZIKV infection also causes a density reduction of PH3+ cells, intermediate progenitor cells and SATB2+ neurons. Moreover, axonal tracing revealed that callosal axons are reduced and misrouted. Also, ZIKV infected cultures show a reduction of callosal axon length. GFAP labelling showed that in utero infection compromises glial cells responsible for midline axon guidance. The RNA-Seq data from infected brains identified downregulation of axon guidance and axonogenesis related genes. In sum, we showed that ZIKV infection impairs critical steps of corpus callosum formation by disrupting not only neurogenesis but also axon guidance and growth across the midline.