Design consideration and modelling studies of ultrasound and ultraviolet combined approach for shelf-life enhancement of pine apple juice

Although both ultraviolet (UV) radiation and ultrasound (US) treatment have their capabilities in microbial inactivation, applying any one method alone may require a high dose for complete inactivation, which may affect the sensory and nutritional properties of pineapple juice. Hence, this study was intended to analyse and optimise the effect of combined US and UV treatments on microbial inactivation without affecting the selected quality parameters of pineapple juice. US treatment (33 kHz) was done at three different time intervals, viz. 10 min, 20 min and 30 min., after which, juice samples were subjected to UV treatment for 10 min at three UV dosage levels, viz. 1 J/cm², 1.3 J/cm², and 1.6 J/cm². The samples were evaluated for total colour difference, pH, total soluble solids (TSS), titrable acidity (TA), and ascorbic acid content; total bacterial count and total yeast count; and the standardization of process parameters was done using Response Surface Methodology and Artificial Neural Network. The results showed that the individual, as well as combined treatments, did not significantly impact the physicochemical properties while retaining the quality characteristics. It was observed that combined treatment resulted in 5 log cycle reduction in bacterial and yeast populations while the individual treatment failed. From the optimization studies, it was found that combined US and UV treatments with 22.95 min and1.577 J/cm² ensured a microbiologically safe product while retaining organoleptic quality close to that of fresh juice.     

紫色球杆菌视紫红质光谱特性的机器学习研究

近年来，机器学习等人工智能技术被应用于蛋白质工程，其在蛋白质结构、功能预测、催化活性等研究中具有独特优势。在未知蛋白质结构的情况下，将蛋白质序列和功能特性与机器学习相结合，基于序列-活性关系（innovative sequence-activity relationship，ISAR）算法，将蛋白质氨基酸序列数字化，用快速傅里叶变换（fast four transform，FFT）进行预处理，再进行偏最小二乘回归建模，可在数据集较少情况下拟合得到最佳模型。通过机器学习对紫色球杆菌视紫红质（gloeobacter violaceus rhodopsin，GR）的突变体蛋白质氨基酸序列与光谱最大吸收波长进行建模，获得了最佳模型。用最佳索引LEVM760106建模得到的确定系数R² 为0.944，均方误差E为11.64。用小波变换进行的预处理，其R² 虽也约为0.944，但E大于11.64，不及FFT进行的预处理。方法较好地解决了蛋白质序列与功能特性之间的数学建模问题，在蛋白质工程中可为预测更优的突变体提供支持。     

Recent advances and challenges in the recovery and purification of cellular exosomes

Exosomes are nanovesicles secreted by most cellular types that carry important biochemical compounds throughout the body with different purposes, playing a preponderant role in cellular communication. Because of their structure, physicochemical properties and stability, recent studies are focusing in their use as nanocarriers for different therapeutic compounds for the treatment of different diseases ranging from cancer to Parkinson's disease. However, current bioseparation protocols and methodologies are selected based on the final exosome application or intended use and present both advantages and disadvantages when compared among them. In this context, this review aims to present the most important technologies available for exosome isolation while discussing their advantages and disadvantages and the possibilities of being combined with other strategies. This is critical since the development of novel exosome‐based therapeutic strategies will be constrained to the effectiveness and yield of the selected downstream purification methodologies for which a thorough understanding of the available technological resources is needed.     

Generating Artificial Reverberation via Genetic Algorithms for Real-Time Applications

We introduce a Virtual Studio Technology (VST) 2 audio effect plugin that performs convolution reverb using synthetic Room Impulse Responses (RIRs) generated via a Genetic Algorithm (GA). The parameters of the plugin include some of those defined under the ISO 3382-1 standard (e.g., reverberation time, early decay time, and clarity), which are used to determine the fitness values of potential RIRs so that the user has some control over the shape of the resulting RIRs. In the GA, these RIRs are initially generated via a custom Gaussian noise method, and then evolve via truncation selection, random weighted average crossover, and mutation via Gaussian multiplication in order to produce RIRs that resemble real-world, recorded ones. Binaural Room Impulse Responses (BRIRs) can also be generated by assigning two different RIRs to the left and right stereo channels. With the proposed audio effect, new RIRs that represent virtual rooms, some of which may even be impossible to replicate in the physical world, can be generated and stored. Objective evaluation of the GA shows that contradictory combinations of parameter values will produce RIRs with low fitness. Additionally, through subjective evaluation, it was determined that RIRs generated by the GA were still perceptually distinguishable from similar real-world RIRs, but the perceptual differences were reduced when longer execution times were used for generating the RIRs or the unprocessed audio signals were comprised of only speech.     

基于图像处理的光学谐振腔自准直研究方法

针对我国氧碘化学激光器输出能量不断提高的情况下,主要限制光束质量的因素之一是出光过程中的光腔失调,提出了一种基于图像处理的光学谐振腔自准直研究方法。该研究方法利用氦氖穿腔光通过凹腔镜中心孔,并在凸腔镜后方放置工业相机,在屏幕上方形成一个干涉同心圆环。通过借助OpenCV库中二值化、霍夫圆检测等图像处理的方法,获得干涉同心圆环的圆心坐标,再通过以圆心为中心将图像分成上下左右四个部分,通过判断这四部分亮点像素的数量差值来预估干涉同心圆环的偏移状态,进而获得空腔条件下光学谐振腔发生变化的理论判据。实验结果表明,该方法可以获得相当精准的光学谐振腔失调判据,其失调判据选取左右亮点像素差值30000,上下亮点像素差值45000,为今后失调判据与步进电机自动调腔的结合做好充足的准备。     

Metabolomic analysis of raw Pinelliae Rhizoma and its alum‐processed products via UPLC–MS and their cytotoxicity

Alum‐processing is a traditional method to attenuate the toxicity of Pinelliae Rhizoma (tubers of Pinellia ternate, PT). The present study aimed at investigating the chemical and cytotoxic changes during alum processing. Metabolomic profiles of raw and alum‐processed PT were studied based on ultra‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with Orbitrap mass spectrometry. More than 80 chemicals in positive MS mode and 40 chemicals in negative MS mode, such as organic acids, amino acids, glucosides and nucleosides, were identified after multivariate statistical analysis, including principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least‐square discriminant analysis. Almost all of the identified chemical markers were significantly decreased ~10‐ to 100‐fold after alum processing. Meanwhile, the correlations between the chemical markers were assimilated to a positive coefficient from disorderly distribution during the processing. Raw PT extracts could inhibit the proliferation of human carcinoma cells (HCT‐116, HepG2, and A549) at the rate of 40.5, 24.8 and 31.6% more strongly than processed PT. It was concluded that the alum processing of PT could decrease the number of actively water‐soluble principles at the same time as decreasing toxicity. Given the water‐insoluble property of toxic calcium oxalate raphides in PT, we suggest that a more scientific processing method should be sought.     

Curvature investigation in tapered fibers and its application to sensing and mode conversion

Non-adiabatic tapered fibers are basic photonic components used in a wide range of applications. Here we investigate a way to increase their utility through the controllable bending of one of their tapered sections. The experiments carried out explain, for the first time, the mechanics of this approach showing how these tapers can be used to build more sensitive sensors. Their use as highly efficient mode converters is also discussed.     

Characterization of Lignin Compounds at the Molecular Level: Mass Spectrometry Analysis and Raw Data Processing

Lignin is the second most abundant natural biopolymer, which is a potential alternative to conventional fossil fuels. It is also a promising material for the recovery of valuable chemicals such as aromatic compounds as well as an important biomarker for terrestrial organic matter. Lignin is currently produced in large quantities as a by-product of chemical pulping and cellulosic ethanol processes. Consequently, analytical methods are required to assess the content of valuable chemicals contained in these complex lignin wastes. This review is devoted to the application of mass spectrometry, including data analysis strategies, for the elemental and structural elucidation of lignin products. We describe and critically evaluate how these methods have contributed to progress and trends in the utilization of lignin in chemical synthesis, materials, energy, and geochemistry.