Optimization of processing conditions and evaluation of shelf-life for jeonbokjang products

The objectives of this study were to identify appropriate manufacturing conditions and determine the shelf-life of cold-stored jeonbokjang, and to study the functional properties of oriental herbal jeonbokjang. Blanching abalone at 100°C for 1 min produced the highest sensory scores, and the optimum formulation of jeonbokjang sauce was 49.56% water and 18.62% starch syrup along with other fixed ingredients. During the storage time of 4 weeks at 5°C, the texture of jeonbokjang became firmer, and salinity, total acidity, and L value decreased, whereas pH, volatile basic nitrogen (VBN), and the number of microorganisms increased. The storage experiment indicated that the shelf-life of cold-stored jeonbokjang was 3 weeks at 5°C. Another optimum formulation for oriental herbal jeonbokjang was identified using optimizing technique; 50% water, 12.5% starch syrup, and 8.33% oriental herbs. Oriental herbal jeonbokjang (100 g) had 122.44 mg vitamin C equivalent (VCE) of antioxidant capacity and 140.89 mg garlic acid equivalent (GAE) of total phenolics.     

Application of well-defined indium tin oxide nanorods as Raman active platforms

We determine the surface enhanced Raman (SER) capability of indium tin oxide nanorods (ITO NRs) whose physical, chemical, and optical properties are precisely and uniformly controlled during synthesis. We demonstrate that the Raman intensities observed from varying concentrations of the pure and mixed molecules of rhodamine 6G and 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole are much larger on ITO NRs relative to those measured on commercially available ITO-coated glass or Si. Our efforts signify the first attempt to assess the SER capability of precisely controlled metal oxide NRs and will be highly beneficial to many basic and applied Raman applications requiring exceptional detection sensitivity.     

Effects of Expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene as a Packaging Material on the Appearance and Texture of Microwave-Baked Soy Cookies

The feasibility of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) as a packaging material for microwave-baked soy cookies was investigated in comparison with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and a susceptor incorporating elemental-metal into a receptacle (EMIR). Physical properties such as the dimensions, color, hardness, and the specific gravity of the products were measured. Soy cookies enclosed in ePTFE showed golden brown color evenly distributed with textural measurements compatible to regular chocolate chip cookies. Soy cookies microwaved in PTFE and EMIR yielded inferior physical attributes. ePTFE was capable of adequately retaining the moisture of soy cookies, indicating the potential as a packaging material for microwavable dough-based products.     

Comparative analysis based on adiabatic shear instability for scuffing failure between unidirectional and reciprocating sliding motion

The principal goal of the experiments described here is to study the sliding motion effects on the scuffing life on the basis of adiabatic shear plastic instability. Experimentally we observed that the load capacity of the surface decreased and micro-scuffing initiated frequently under the reciprocating sliding motion as compared to under the unidirectional sliding motion. According to the adiabatic shear instability model, the scuffing initiation occurs when the rate of thermal softening exceeds that of work hardening due to plastic deformation. In order to ascertain the thermal softening in sliding surfaces, the contact temperatures were calculated. We found that the higher friction coefficient under the reciprocating sliding motion caused the higher contact temperature than that under the unidirectional motion. Therefore, the rate of thermal softening could exceed that of work hardening easily under the reciprocating sliding motion owing to frictional heating. We speculated that the scuffing initiation could roughen the sliding surfaces rapidly under the reciprocating sliding motion and confirmed that our assumption demonstrated above, was consistent with the experimental observation. In conclusion, there is a synergy effect in relation to scuffing failure because the frictional heating, surface roughening, and scuffing initiation function together to enhance each other, and consequently, the load capacity of surfaces could decrease under reciprocating sliding.     

Advanced Fatigue Crack Detection Using Nonlinear Self-Sensing Impedance Technique for Automated NDE of Metallic Structures

This article reports the application of a nonlinear impedance technique under a low-frequency vibration to detect contact-type structural defects such as fatigue cracks. If the contact-type damage is developed within the structure due to the low-frequency dynamic load, the vibration can cause a nonlinear fluctuation of the structural impedance because of the contact acoustic nonlinearity (CAN). This nonlinear effect can lead to amplitude modulation and phase modulation of the current flow. The nonlinear characteristics of the structural impedance can be extracted by observing the coupled electromechanical impedance of a piezoelectric active sensor and utilizing nonlinear wave modulation spectroscopy. Experimentally, a low-frequency vibration was applied to a notched coupon at a certain natural frequency by a shaker, so that a nonlinear fatigue crack can be artificially formed at the notch tip. Then, the nonlinear features are extracted based on a self-sensing impedance measurement from a host structure under a low-frequency vibration. The damage metric was established based on the nonlinear fluctuation of the impedance due to the CAN.     

A new technique of dural closure--experience with a vicryl mesh

Treatment of postoperative dural CSF leaks following posterior fossa surgery remains a difficult and often perplexing problem. Their management includes either non-operative management or surgical re-exploration. In order to avoid CSF leaks we developed a simple but effective method using a well-cut sheet of a vicryl-poly-p-dioxanone mesh (Ethisorb) covering the whole defect of the craniectomy. This paper presents our technique of dural closure, experiences with and advantages of the vicryl mesh in comparison with conventional procedures using muscle patches in combination with fibrin sealant or fibrin glue alone. Attention is focused upon the frequency of postoperative complications, in particular infection rate and CSF leaks. Furthermore, histomorphological observations after implantation of a vicryl mesh are demonstrated. In conclusion, due to its specific qualities we consider the vicryl mesh as a suitable dural substitute with potential advantages over currently used material.     

Data mining technique for medical informatics: detecting gastric cancer using case-based reasoning and single nucleotide polymorphisms

Abstract: Although data mining and knowledge discovery techniques have recently been used to diagnose human disease, little research has been conducted on disease diagnostic modelling using human gene information. Furthermore, to our knowledge, no study has reported on diagnosis models using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) information. A disease diagnosis model using data mining techniques and SNP information should prove promising from a practical perspective as more information on human genes becomes available. Data mining and knowledge discovery techniques can be put to practical use detecting human disease, since a haplotype analysis using high-density SNP markers has gained great attention for evaluating human genes related to various human diseases. This paper explores how data mining and knowledge discovery can be applied to medical informatics using human gene information. As an example, we applied case-based reasoning to a cancer detection problem using human gene information and SNP analysis because case-based reasoning has been applied in medicine relatively less often than other data mining techniques. We propose a modified case-based reasoning method that is appropriate for associated categorical variables to use in detecting gastric cancer.     

In Situ Reprogrammings of Splenic CD11b+ Cells by Nano-Hypoxia to Promote Inflamed Damage Site-Specific Angiogenesis

Clinical translation of nanoparticles is limited because of their short circulation time, which hampers targeting to prolong therapeutic effects. Angiogenesis is required to regenerate damaged sites under inflammation, and CD11b⁺ cells turn vasculogenic under hypoxia. As a turning-point strategy to increase the circulation time, this study explores liposomal targeting of splenic CD11b⁺ cells, which are gathered in the spleen and move to inflamed sites inherently. Moreover, nano-hypoxia is strategized as a therapeutic method by loading liposomes with a hypoxic-mimetic agent (CoCl₂) to induce in situ reprogramming of splenic CD11b⁺ cells upon venous injection. Consequently, the vasculogenic potential of reprogrammed cells accelerates regeneration through inflammation-responsive homing. Hydrophilic coating of liposomes improves the selectivity of splenic targeting in contrast to fast targeting without coating. Hypoxia chambers and surgical induction of splenic hypoxia are compared to validate the reprogramming effect. The strategy is validated in mouse models of inflamed skin, ischemic hindlimbs, and 70% hepatectomy compared with a conventional approach using bone marrow cells. Intravital multiphoton microscopy, ¹⁹F 2D/3D MRI, and microchannel hydrogel chips for 3D tissue culture are used as advanced tools. Overall, nanocarrier change to CD11b⁺ cells prolong targeting by inducing in situ reprogramming for inflammation-responsive vasculogenic therapy.     

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in Lake Michigan forage fish

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were analyzed in 88 forage fish samples collected from Lake Michigan in 1995 and in 2002/2003. Lipid-normalized total PBDE concentrations ranged from 149 to 1094 ng/g. Total PBDEs in alewife and deepwater sculpin did not change significantly from 1995 to 2002/2003, while the levels in bloater chub and the slimy sculpin decreased. BDE-47 was the most abundant congener in the fish. All of the forage fish were depleted in BDE-99 relative to what would be expected based on the congener composition of the commercial formulation in use. The deepwater sculpins were particularly lacking in BDE-99. Changes in the food web brought about by the dramatic decline of Diporeia abundance (due to the invasion of zebra and quagga mussels) may have affected the levels of PBDEs in some of the forage fish.     

Influence of aspect ratio and skin effect on EMI shielding of coating materials fabricated with carbon nanofiber/PVDF

The effectiveness of electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding was measured for poly vinylidene fluoride (PVDF) coating materials containing carbon nanofibers. Carbon nanofibers produced from the C₂H₄/NC73 system exhibited higher shielding effectiveness (SE) by relatively large specific surface area and high aspect ratio than those from others. When the thickness of carbon nanofibers filled PVDF coating materials varied from 25 to 50 m, the electrical conductivity of coating materials increased sharply from 1.34 to 1.91 S/cm. However, the electrical conductivity approached a certain value with further raise of the thickness. This phenomenon denotes that a critical thickness of coating materials exists around 50 m. The electrical conductivity and SE of coating materials decreased dramatically as the carbon nanofiber fillers were milled. It could be concluded that the decrease of the shielding effectiveness of carbon nanofiber filled composite was due to the decrease of the filler's aspect ratio by ball milling.