Effects of multiple freeze–thaw cycles on meat quality,nutrients, water distribution and microstructure in bovine rumen smooth muscle

This study investigated the effect of 5 freeze–thaw cycles (freezing at −18°C for 12 h and then thawing at 4°C for approximately 12 h) on the meat quality, proximate composition, water distribution and microstructure of bovine rumen smooth muscle (BSM). As the number of freeze–thaw cycles increased, BSM pH, shear force, water content and protein content decreased by 3.06%, 35.50%, 14.49% and 21.11%, respectively, whereas BSM thawing loss, cooking loss, pressing loss, total aerobic count (TAC), ash content and fat content increased by 108.12%, 47.75%, 78.33%, 90.99%, 105% and 35.20%, respectively. The freeze–thaw cycles resulted in greater protein and lipid oxidation, as evidenced by a 36.46% reduction in the sulfhydryl content and a 209.06% and 338.46% increase in the carbonyl and malondialdehyde contents, respectively. Ice crystal formation disrupted the structural integrity of the muscle tissue. Low-field nuclear magnetic resonance results showed that the freeze–thaw cycles prolonged the relaxation times (T_2b, T₂₁ and T₂₂), indicating that immobile water shifted to free water, and consequently, free water mobility increased. After 3 freeze–thaw cycles, the decline in shear force slowed, the increase in thawing loss became accelerated, and the TAC approached the domain value (6 log colony-forming units/g). Therefore, the number of freeze–thaw cycles of smooth muscle during transport, storage and distribution should be controlled to 3 or fewer. The current results provide a theoretical basis and data support for the further utilisation and culinary processing of smooth muscle.     

Early-age restrained shrinkage cracking of GFRP-RC bridge deck slabs: Effect of environmental conditions

Most of codes and guidelines for glass fiber reinforced polymers (GFRP) - Reinforced Concrete (RC) are based on modifying corresponding formulas, originally developed for steel bars, taking into account the differences in properties and behavior between FRP and steel. The main objective of this research is to investigate the effect of cyclic environments on early-age cracking of GFRP-RC bridge deck slabs experimentally. Two full-scale (measuring 2500-mm long × 765-mm wide × 180-mm thick) cast-in-place slabs reinforced with similar amounts of reinforcement ratio of 0.7% with GFRP and steel bars, respectively, were tested in adiabatic laboratory conditions as control specimens. In comparison, two other GFRP-RC deck slabs were tested under freezing–thawing and wetting–drying conditions. The test results are presented in terms of materials degradation, cracking pattern, crack width, and spacing, and strains in reinforcement and concrete. Test results indicate that the minimum reinforcement ratio (0.7%) recommended by the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code 2006 (CHBDC 2006) for bridge deck slabs reinforced with GFRP bars satisfied the serviceability requirements after being subjected to the simulated cyclic exposures.     

The Tunable Porous Structure of Gelatin–Bioglass Nanocomposite Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering Applications: Physicochemical,Mechanical, and In Vitro Properties

Unidirectional freeze‐casting method is used to fabricate gelatin–bioglass nanoparticles (BGNPs) scaffolds. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images show that sol–gel prepared BGNPs are distributed throughout the scaffold with diameters of less than 10 nm. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and differential scanning calorimetric are used to evaluate the physicochemical properties of BGNPs. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs present an oriented porous structure and a homogeneous distribution of BGNPs in the gelatin matrix. The lamellar‐type structure indicates an improvement of mechanical strength and absorption capacity of the scaffolds. Increasing the concentration of BGNPs from 0 to 50 wt% have no noticeable effect on pore orientation, but decreases porosity and pore size distribution. Increase in BGNPs content improves the compressive strength. The absorption and biodegradation rate reduces with augmentation in BGNPs concentration. Bioactivity is evaluated through apatite formation after immersion of the nanocomposites in simulated body fluid and is verified by SEM–energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS), an element map analysis, X‐ray powder diffractometer, and FTIR spectrum. SEM images and methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay confirm the biocompatibility of scaffolds and the supportive behavior of nanocomposites in cellular spreading. The results show that gelatin–(30 wt%)bioglass nanocomposites have incipient physicochemical and biological properties.     

Retention of Eucalyptol,a Natural Volatile Insecticide,in Delivery Systems Based on Hydroxypropyl‐β‐Cyclodextrin and Liposomes

Eucalyptol (Euc) is a natural monoterpene with insecticide effects. Being highly volatile and sensitive to ambient conditions, its encapsulation would enlarge its application. Euc‐loaded conventional liposomes (CL), cyclodextrin/drug inclusion complex, and drug‐in‐cyclodextrin‐in‐liposomes (DCL) are prepared to protect Euc from degradation, reduce its evaporation, and provide its controlled release. The liposomal suspension is freeze‐dried using hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin (HP‐β‐CD) as cryoprotectant. The liposomes are characterized before and after freeze‐drying. The effect of Euc on the fluidity of liposomal membrane is also examined. A release study of Euc from delivery systems, in powder and reconstituted forms, is performed by multiple head extraction at 60 °C after 6 months of storage at 4 °C. CL and DCL suspensions are homogeneous, show nanometric vesicles size, spherical shape, and negative surface charge before and after freeze‐drying. Moreover, HP‐β‐CD does not affect the fluidity of liposomes. CL formulations present a weak encapsulation for Euc. The loading capacity of eucalyptol in DCL is 38 times higher than that in CL formulation. In addition, freeze‐dried DCL and HP‐β‐CD/Euc inclusion complex show a higher retention of eucalyptol than CL delivery system. Both carrier systems HP‐β‐CD/Euc and Euc‐loaded DCL decrease Euc evaporation and improve its retention. Practical Applications: Eucalyptol is a natural insecticide. It is highly volatile and poorly soluble in water. To enlarge its application, its encapsulation in three delivery systems (conventional liposomes, cyclodextrin/drug inclusion complex, combined system composed of cyclodextrin inclusion complex and liposome) is studied. In this paper it is proved that cyclodextrin/eucalyptol inclusion complex and eucalyptol‐in‐cyclodextrin‐in‐liposome are effective delivery systems for encalyptol encapsulation, retention, and release.     

基于红外测温的文物冷冻干燥监测技术

为了给大型、大批量文物的冷冻干燥保驾护航，以饱水木质文物为样品，结合红外温度传感器和红外热像仪，对文物的冷冻过程进行温度监控。结果表明，红外温度传感器对样品表面温度变化十分灵敏，能有效跟踪温度的动态变化过程，但测量准确性会受样品发射率、环境波动等因素的影响。红外热像仪经发射率标定后可达到较高的测量精度，利用热成像得到的图像，可直观地筛查样品表面的最高/最低温度区。经过分析，样品在靠近仓内换热器端的位置，表面温度较低，靠近仓门的位置，表面温度较高，且样品上表面温度略低于侧面温度。根据红外测温结果，预期能给出冷冻干燥设备控制的建议，降低文物冻干失败的风险，减轻文保工作者的工作负担。     

Influences of chitosan on freeze–thaw stability of Arenga pinnata starch

This study aims to investigate chitosan (CS) with five different molecular weight (Mw) on freeze–thaw stability of Arenga pinnata starch (APS) gel subjected to five freeze–thaw cycles (FTC). The syneresis of APS gels was reduced by adding CS and the APS gel with high Mw CS had lower syneresis duo to a higher water holding capacity (P < 0.05). The addition of CS significantly decreased the hardness and molecular ordered structure of APS gel. In addition, CS could improve the microstructural stability. The results suggested that CS could effectively improve the freeze–thaw stability of APS gel, and CS with higher Mw might have more practical utility to improve stability of APS gel.     

超声波解冻与传统解冻方式的比较与竞争力评估

超声波解冻通过空化效应、机械效应和热效应对冷冻食品进行解冻,解冻效率高、对冷冻食品的损伤较小。该文简要介绍了空气解冻、水解冻和电解冻的解冻机制及研究进展,详细阐述了超声波解冻的机制及研究进展。将超声波解冻与空气解冻、水解冻和电解冻进行对比,发现超声波解冻的解冻效率最优,且将超声波与这3种传统解冻方式结合可以提高解冻效率,并且获得更好的解冻效果。超声波频率和强度以及冻结食品的解冻温度是影响解冻效果的主要参数。超声波在食品中的衰减程度受到解冻温度的影响极大,因此在调节超声波频率和强度同时调控解冻温度对解冻效果至关重要。     

肉类解冻工艺研究进展

解冻是肉类加工或烹饪前的重要步骤，不恰当的解冻工艺会导致肉类品质的劣变，因此，开发高效益的解冻工艺是十分必要的。解冻工艺的发展在经历了传统工艺、新型工艺后，近年又涌现了一些独特且具有创新性的解冻工艺。本文除简要概括肉品解冻过程及常见解冻工艺之外，综述这些独特的解冻工艺，介绍其开发思路、解冻原理和相关研究内容，并对未来解冻工艺的发展提出建议，旨在为肉及肉制品解冻工艺的选择和优化提供参考。     

冻融循环作用后BFRC宏微观性能的灰熵法分析

通过玄武岩纤维混凝土(BFRC)的快速冻融试验和微观孔结构试验,研究了2种冻融介质(水和质量分数为3.5%NaCl溶液)条件下BFRC相对动弹性模量、冻融损伤度以及强度的变化规律,分析了孔结构参数(含气量、孔比表面积、气泡间距系数和气泡平均弦长)与BFRC抗压强度、抗折强度和冻融损伤度的关系,采用灰熵法探讨了BFRC孔结构参数对其抗压强度、抗折强度以及冻融损伤度的影响规律.结果表明:BFRC强度随其含气量、气泡间距系数、气泡平均弦长的增加而减小,而冻融损伤度随上述3个孔结构参数的增加而增加;BFRC强度随其孔比表面积的增加而增加,而冻融损伤度随孔比表面积的增加而减小;对BFRC抗压强度、抗折强度影响最大的因素均为孔比表面积;影响BFRC冻融损伤度的主要因素为气泡间距系数和气泡平均弦长,这2个因素随冻融循环次数、玄武岩纤维掺量的变化而变化.