Co-coating effect of GdPO4 and carbon on LiFePO4 cathode surface for lithium ion batteries

The electronic conductivity enhanced has been extensively studied and reported in lithium iron phosph-ate (LiFePO₄). However, only few existing literatures are available for researchers to enhance simultaneously the ion and electronic conductivity of LiFePO₄. Herein, we disclose that the LiFePO₄ is co-coated with novel GdPO₄ and Carbon via a hydrothermal-assisted solid-phase method, contributing to particle size and dispersibility. What surprising is that the ionic and electronic conductivity of the material is significantly enhanced, and the interfacial side reaction is effectively inhibited between the materials and the electrolytes. The diverse proportions of the mixed coating (LiFePO₄/C&xGdPO₄ (x = 0, 1 wt%, 2 wt%, 3 wt%, 4 wt%)) are synthesized compared with bare LiFePO₄. The experimental results suggest that LiFePO₄/C&0.03GdPO₄ exhibits the most excellent electrochemical performance. There is discharge capacity of 158, 148.8, 141.6, 134.9, 121.8, 104.9, and 86.7mAh/g at 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, and 10 C rates, respectively.     

Combined effect of calcium oxide and sonication to reduce foodborne pathogens on fresh produce

This study was conducted to investigate the antibacterial activity of calcium oxide (CaO), sonication, and their combination against foodborne pathogens on several fresh produce. The results showed that combined treatment inhibited Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella Typhimurium on fresh produce. However, the effectiveness of treatments for reducing populations of foodborne pathogens varied depending on the types and condition of the fresh produce. This study demonstrated that the antibacterial potency of CaO and its application with sonication could be one of alternatives for controlling foodborne pathogens on fresh produce.     

Comparison of feeding corn silages from leafy or conventional corn hybrids to lactating dairy cows

Three corn hybrids (Pioneer 36F30, Mycogen TMF2450, and Mycogen TMF2404) were compared for yield and quality traits, and lactation performance and apparent digestibility by Holstein cows. The three corn silages were harvested at a target of 33 to 35% dry matter. Before harvest, six corn plants were randomly selected for plant fractionation. Grain-to-stover ratios were 0.92, 0.70, and 0.95 for the 36F30, TMF2450, and TMF2404 corn plants, respectively. Fifty-two multiparous Holstein cows were placed on a 120-d lactation trial after a 21-d covariate diet. Cows were blocked by calving date and randomly assigned within block to one of three dietary treatments, containing approximately 40% (dry matter basis) corn silage. Milk yield, milk components, and dry matter intake did not differ among dietary treatments. In vitro true and neutral detergent fiber digestibilities were numerically higher for TMF2404 than the other corn silage hybrids. Apparent total-tract crude protein and neutral detergent fiber digestibilities, as measured by acid insoluble ash, were higher for TMF2450 than the other two hybrids, but starch digestibility was not different between the corn silage dietary treatments. Although small differences in nutrient content and digestibility existed among corn silage hybrids, inclusion of these leafy hybrids in lactating cow diets at 40% of the dietary dry matter did not have a significant impact on lactation performance of dairy cattle.     

Evaluation of In vitro antioxidant properties of roasted hulled barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

The antioxidant properties of roasted hulled barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) were tested using in vitro assays, including the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and DPPH, ABTS, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Hulled barley was roasted at 0, 170, 210, and 250°C for 20 min. The effects of the aqueous heating time at 100°C from 0 to 60 min and the blending ratio of barley and water from 1:2 to 1:5 in aqueous solutions were evaluated. p-Coumaric and ferulic acid contents were analyzed. The highest antioxidant activities were observed in 250°C roasted samples, although the p-coumaric and ferulic acid contents were high at 210°C. The highest antioxidant capacity in aqueous solution was observed at 60 min of extraction and in samples with a 1:2 blending ratio.     

Biotransformation of ginsenoside Rd in the ginseng extraction residue by fermentation with lingzhi (Ganoderma lucidum)

Ginseng and lingzhi (Ganoderma lucidum) both are valuable traditional Chinese medicines and have been extensively utilised in functional foods and traditional medicines in many Asian countries. However, massive quantity of ginseng residue is produced after extraction of ginseng which still contains a lot of bioactive compounds such as ginsenosides. The goal of this study was to reuse the American ginseng extraction residue as the fermentation medium of G. lucidum to produce bioactive ginsenoside enriched biotransformation products. The changes of ginsenosides in the fermentation products were analysed during fermentation. Our results showed that after 30 days of fermentation, ginsenoside Rg1, Rd, and compound K (CK) significantly increased, especially Rd, while other ginsenosides (Re, Rb1 and Rc) decreased during fermentation. Ginsenoside Rd is the major ginsenoside in the final fermentation product. Furthermore, the biotransformation of ginsenosides was the major reaction in this fermentation process.     

Supercritical fluid extract from maca alleviates colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium in mice

The objective of this study was to investigate the possible protective effects of maca (Lepidium meyenii) extract (MLE) by supercritical fluid extraction on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis. Experimental colitis was induced by giving male BALB/c mice 3% DSS in drinking water, and MLE (30 mg/kg BW), sulfasalazine (100 mg/kg BW) or vehicle were administered orally. DSS challenge caused significant body weight loss, rectal bleeding, diarrhea, shortened colon length, histological changes, and increased myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in DSS-treated mice. Oral administration of MLE significantly relieved the symptoms of diarrhea and rectal bleeding, and reduced colonic MPO activity (p<0.05). MLE treatment inhibited expression of several colonic proteins related to inflammatory responses, such as interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-6, and S100 calcium-binding protein A8, whose expressions were increased significantly by DSS treatment. These results suggest that MLE can alleviate DSS-induced colitis in mice by modulating colonic inflammatory mediators.     

Pacific Tracker 2 – Expert System (PacTrac2-ES) behavioural assessment and intervention tool for the Pacific Kids DASH for Health (PacDASH) study

The Pacific Tracker (PacTrac) is a computer program designed to analyse food intakes of individuals from the Pacific Region. PacTrac’s original output included servings of daily intake of food groups according to the United States Food Guide Pyramid, nutrient intake recommendations, and a comparison to other national nutrition recommendations. PacTrac was made available for public use through the Hawaii Foods website (hawaiifoods.hawaii.edu). PacTrac2 is an updated and expanded version of PacTrac that uses the United States MyPyramid/MyPlate food groups in household units of daily intake, rather than servings. In addition, the PacTrac2 includes a physical activity analysis tool which quantifies minutes of physical activities and their intensities based on energy estimates from the compendium of physical activity and research on children. An Expert System (ES) – a computerised decision tree to guide behaviour change – was developed using information on self-efficacy and stage of readiness to change, and the fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity information from PacTrac2. The ES produces reports for the child, the parent/guardian, and the child’s physician with child-specific strategies, targeted behavioural information, and feedback tailored to the child. PacTrac2-ES was designed for the Pacific Kids DASH for Health (PacDASH) intervention study, conducted in the Kaiser Permanente health care system in Hawaii. The intervention is based on the child’s self-efficacy and stage of readiness to change intake of fruits and vegetables and physical activity, with a goal of maintaining body weight to prevent obesity. The intervention is complemented with stage-based mailers addressing the environment for physical activity and fruit and vegetable intake and newsletters that address related behaviours (sedentary activity and a DASH eating approach). This project is the first to expand the PacTrac to contain children’s foods and physical activities from the Pacific Region and to use current US MyPyramid/MyPlate food and physical activity analysis and guidance systems, and to develop and implement an Expert System for fruits, vegetables and physical activity of 5–8-year-old children. The PacTrac2-ES was used in the PacDASH study and will be used for other programs to promote healthy eating and physical activity of children in the Pacific Region.