Moisture distribution in rice grains used for sake brewing analyzed by magnetic resonance imaging

Water absorption in individual white-core and non-white-core grains of rice varieties used in sake brewing was observed during soaking by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Water was absorbed faster in white-core grains than in non-white-core grains and was pooled in the core. Moisture distributions were compared using the line profiles of nuclear magnetic resonance signal intensities (SI profiles) generated from magnetic resonance images of grains soaked for 2 h. SI profiles of white-core and non-white-core grains overlapped despite slight differences in the central and intermediate regions of the grains. A white-core-like structure with loosely packed starch granules was found to exist in the endosperm of non-white-core grains. SI profiles of grains polished to 70% of the yield weight of brown rice were similar in shape to those of grains polished to 90% of the yield, but their overall moisture content was higher after the removal of the hydrophobic grain periphery. A varietal difference in the thickness of the intermediate region, which may affect fissuring resistance in the polishing process, was detected in SI profiles. Differences in water absorbability between parents and their offspring were also apparent from their SI profiles. MRI enabled the detection of variety-specific water-absorption properties in grains.     

Nano- and Microdelivery Systems for Marine Bioactive Lipids

There is an increasing body of evidence of the positive impact of several marine lipids on human health. These compounds, which include ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, have been shown to improve blood lipid profiles and exert anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective effects. The high instability of these compounds to oxidative deterioration and their hydrophobicity have a drastic impact in their pharmacokinetics. Thus, the bioavailability of these compounds may be affected, resulting in their inability to reach the target sites at effective concentrations. In this regard; micro/nanoparticles can offer a wide range of solutions that can prevent the degradation of targeted molecules, increase their absorption, uptake and bioavailability. In this work we will present the options currently available concerning micro- and nanodelivery systems for marine lipids; with emphasis on micro/nanoparticles; such as micro/nanocapsules and emulsions. A wide range of bottom-up approaches using casein, chitosan, cyclodextrins, among others; will be discussed.     

茶多酚对淀粉酯纳米颗粒及其稳定的Pickering乳液性质的影响

为探究茶多酚（Tea Polyphenols, TPs）对辛烯基琥珀酸酐（Octenyl Succinic Anhydride, OSA）酯化淀粉纳米颗粒（Starch Nanoparticles,SNPs）及其稳定的Pickering乳液性质的影响,该研究在制备OSA-SNPs的过程中添加TPs,研究TPs对OSA-SNPs的理化性质和乳化性能的影响。结果发现,添加TPs使OSA-SNPs的平均粒径增加、表面Zeta电位绝对值下降、接触角减小（P<0.05）。通过傅立叶红外光谱扫描发现,TPs与OSA-SNPs之间存在氢键和疏水相互作用。在TP-OSA-SNPs稳定的乳液中,增加TP-OSA-SNPs的质量浓度（从0.5 g/mL至2.0 g/mL）,乳滴平均直径明显减小（P<0.05）;当TP-OSA-SNPs的质量浓度增加至2 g/mL时,乳液形成了油滴紧密堆积的界面结构,能够抑制油滴迁移。通过加速氧化试验发现,与OSA-SNPs相比,TP-OSA-SNPs稳定的乳液中氢过氧化物值（Peroxide Value, POV）相对较低（P<0.05）,说明TP-OSA-SNPs具有延缓乳液中油脂氧化的作用。结果表明,这种新型具有抗氧化功能的食品级颗粒乳化剂,对构筑淀粉基Pickering乳液载体具有潜在价值。     

Effect of Using Magnetic Brackish Water on Irrigated Bell Pepper Crop （Capsicum annuum L.） Characteristics in Lower Jordan Valley/West Bank

Increasing salinity of the groundwater is one of major challenges faced by agricultural sector in West Bank/Palestine. This study was carried out in the Lower Jordan Valley （LJV） under greenhouse field condition, where an area of 0.12 ha was irrigated with 3.5 dS/m magnetic treated water during the growing season 2012/2013. The results of this pilot project show that there are significant increases in the yield of red and yellow bell pepper of about 20% and 18% on fresh weight basis, respectively. Water use efficiency increased by 15% and an increase in shelf time of 7 d were also recorded. The chlorophyll content raised significantly in the leaves of treated plants compared to the controlled one by 2.5 mg/g. Bell pepper irrigated with magnetic water produces 37% more four champers than that of the controlled one. On the other hand, there were no clear significant effects on the height of the plant, number of fruits, distance between nods, size of fruits, number and thickness of walls and sugar contents. Applying visible/near infrared （VIS/N｜R） spectroscopy test shows that it is possible to distinguish between treated and controlled bell pepper fruits. Multivariate data analysis （MVDA） method was used to test the classification of chemical elements in the fruit and it was found that treated and controlled fruit samples are divided into two groups according to their water treatment. An increase in all nutrient concentrations was found in fruits irrigated with magnetic treated water compared with the controlled one. Further testing is needed especially by involving other variables such as decreasing the volume of irrigated water and fertilizers.     

氧化铁纳米粒子对玉米生理效应影响的研究

为了有效地评估纳米粒子对植物潜在的生物毒性,选取玉米和氧化铁纳米粒子为研究对象,探讨氧化铁纳米粒子（nailo-Fe2O3）对玉米生理效应的影响。同时,测定抗氧化酶体系的酶活性和丙二醛（MDA）含量,结果表明当受到氧化铁纳米粒子胁迫时,玉米会发生氧化应激反应,但这会激发玉米本身的保护机制,导致整个机体的抗氧化预防能力增强,使得机体的超氧阴离子自由基含量降低,减少对机体的损害。同时,通过玉米根的荧光切片和透射电镜切片,可以得出氧化铁纳米粒子从上皮层运输到皮质层主要是通过质外体途径．并且能够进入玉米细胞中、、这些为评估纳米粒子对植物的影响奠定基础。     

Antibody-coated gold nanoparticles immunoassay for direct detection of Aeromonas salmonicida in fish tissues

Aeromonas salmonicida is the causative agent of furunculosis, a disease that affects both salmonid and non‐salmonid fish. Detection of A. salmonicida can be labour intensive and time consuming because of the difficulties in distinguishing the bacterium from other species given the wide variety of existing biochemical profiles and the slow growth characteristics which allow other organisms to overgrow the A. salmonicida. Herein, we report the development of a specific immunoassay using gold‐conjugated polyclonal antibodies for the rapid detection of A. salmonicida in fish tissues. Monodispersible 13‐nm gold nanoparticles were coated with polyclonal antibodies specific to A. salmonicida. Reddish purple agglutination of gold particles indicated the presence of A. salmonicida in samples. Positive reactions were detected visually with the naked eye. No agglutination was observed when A. salmonicida antibody‐coated gold nanoparticles were tested with other common bacterial fish pathogens, thereby verifying the specificity of the assay. The assay could detect A. salmonicida in fish tissues down to 1 × 10⁴ CFU mL^?1, and results were obtained within 45 min. The antibody‐coated gold nanoparticles were stable for at least 2 months at 4°C. The immunoassay using antibody‐coated gold nanoparticles represents a promising tool for the rapid and specific detection of A. salmonicida in fish tissues.     

Assessment of the effect of silver nanoparticles on the relevant soil protozoan genus Acanthamoeba

Silver nanoparticles (AgNP) are used in a broad range of consumer products and industrial applications. During the regular product life cycle and disposal, AgNP are continuously released into the environment. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate the potential ecotoxicological effects of AgNP exposure on amoebae. The Acanthamoeba castellanii ATCC 30234 strain and environmental isolate Acanthamoeba strain C5/2, which are both affiliated with genotype T4, were chosen as representatives of ecologically important soil protozoan organisms. The amoebae were exposed to citrate‐stabilized AgNP (30 and 70 nm in size) for 24 h and 96 h at concentrations ranging from 600 µg L⁻¹ to 20 mg L⁻¹. A newly adopted cell culture based microscopic assay was applied to assess the adherence ability of the amoeba trophozoites. The general metabolic activity of Acanthamoeba was determined to be a second independent endpoint by means of intracellular reduction of the redox dye AlamarBlue®. The fate of AgNP within the amoebae and test solutions was visualized by light‐ and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Both Acanthamoeba strains showed a significant dose‐dependent decrease of adherence ability (p  < 0.04) and metabolic activity (p < 0.01) after 96 h of AgNP exposure. The environmental Acanthamoeba strain C5/2 lost both its adherence ability and metabolic activity at lower AgNP concentrations than the type strain, indicating a higher sensitivity to ionic silver. This was confirmed by the application of AgNO₃, provoking a higher effect level in strain C5/2. AgNP was visualized intracellularly by transmission electron microscopy within the cytoplasm of Acanthamoeba . This is the first report to show the ecotoxicological effects of short‐term AgNP exposure on the soil protist Acanthamoeba , causing both changes in the adherence ability and metabolic activity of this amoeba. This combined approach may be a powerful tool in the future for predicting potential harmful ecotoxicological effects of AgNP exposure using soil protozoans.     

防锈电磁阀的结构设计与材料选择

电磁阀是自动化灌溉系统的重要部件，防水防锈是这种电磁阀正常工作的必要条件。文章首称简要介绍了防锈电磁阀的工作原理，然后详细说明了电磁阀电磁铁的防锈结构设计方案及防锈材料的选择，最后给出了电磁铁线圈参数计算的注意点。实验表明，上述方案的防锈性能要满足实际需要。     

Effect of gold nanoparticles on reversing adriamycin resistance of human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2/ADM cells

AIM: To investigate whether gold nanoparticles (GNPs) reverses adriamycin (ADM), resistance of human hepatocellular carcinoma drug-resistant cell line HepG2/ADM and to explore the potential mechanism. METHODS: The sensitivities of HepG2 cells and HepG2/ADM cells to ADM were tested by MTT assay before and after GNPs pretreatment. The apoptotic rate was examined by flow cytometry. The concentration of ADM in HepG2/ADM or HepG2 cells was determined by ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer. The content of glutathione (GSH) in HepG2/ADM or HepG2 cells by DTNB method. RESULTS: The half maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀) of ADM for HepG2/ADM cells were(29.46±1.73) mg/L and (15.18±0.85) mg/L before and after GNPs pretreatment,respectively. The IC₅₀ of ADM for HepG2 cells was (9.16±2.03) mg/L before pretreatment. The apoptotic rate in GNPs+ADM group was higher than that in ADM group (P<0.05). The concentration of ADM in HepG2/ADM group was lower than that in HepG2 group (P<0.01). After GNPs pretreatment, the concentration of ADM in HepG2/ADM cells was higher than that before pretreatment. The content of GSH in HepG2/ADM group was higher than that in HepG2 group (P<0.01). After GNPs pretreatment, the content of GSH in the HepG2/ADM cells was lower than that before pretreatment. CONCLUSION: Gold nanoparticles can reverse ADM resistance of human hepatocellular carcinoma drug-resistant cell line HepG2/ADM, reduce the content of GSH and increase the concentration of ADM in HepG2/ADM cells.     

磁场抑制洋葱鳞茎萌发的生理机制的研究

分别用4个强度的恒定磁场对紫皮洋葱鳞茎进行不同时间的处理。结果表明：一定强度的恒定磁场和处理时间可以降低洋葱鳞茎可溶性蛋白质含量、可溶性糖含量、总淀粉酶活性，提高IAA氧化酶的活性，从而抑制洋葱鳞茎的发芽；可溶性蛋白质含量、可溶性糖含量、总淀粉酶活性与洋葱鳞茎发芽率的高低呈正相关关系，而IAA氧化酶活性与洋葱鳞茎发芽率的高低呈负相关关系。