Optimization of plasma-processed air(PPA)inactivation of Escherichia coli in button mushrooms for extending the shelf life by response surface methodology

The effect of plasma-processed air(PPA)treatment with different conditions(time,power andflow rate)on the inactivation of Escherichia coli(E.coli)in button mushroom was evaluated.Response surface methodology(RSM)was applied to optimize PPA treatments on the E.coli of button mushrooms.According to the response surface analysis,the optimal treatment parameters were a treatment time of 12 min,treatment power of 90 W and flow rate of 1.2 l min-1.As with verifying tests from the optimization exercise,the number of E.coli reduced by 5.27 log CFU/g at the determined optimum conditions.The scanning electronic microscopy(SEM)micrography showed that the surface of the E.coli was significantly changed under the optimized PPA treatment.Quality parameters of button mushrooms treated at the determined optimum conditions were compared with untreated samples during the storage for 12 d at 4°C?±?1°C.The PPA treatment was found to be effective in inhibiting microbes and preserving postharvest quality in button mushrooms,and these results suggested PPA treatment may provide an alternative for the sterilization of foodborne and maintaining postharvest of fruits and vegetables.

Network Aggregation Process in Multilayer Air Transportation Networks

The air transportation network, one of the common multilayer complex systems, is composed of a collection of individual airlines, and each airline corresponds to a different layer. An important question is then how many airlines are really necessary to represent the optimal structure of a multilayer air transportation system. Here we take the Chinese air transportation network （CATN） as an example to explore the nature of multiplex systems through the procedure of network aggregation. Specifically, we propose a series of structural measures to characterize the CATN from the multilayered to the aggregated network level. We show how these measures evolve during the network aggregation process in which layers are gradually merged together and find that there is an evident structural transition that happened in the aggregated network with nine randomly chosen airlines merged, where the network features and construction cost of this network are almost equivalent to those of the present CATN with twenty-two airlines under this condition. These findings could shed some light on network structure optimization and management of the Chinese air transportation system.

ATR-FTIR Analysis on Aliphatic Hydrocarbon Bond(C-H)For­mation and Carboxyl Content during the Ageing of DC Air Plasma Treated Cotton Cellulose and Its Impact on Hydrophilicity

The surface of the cotton fabric was modified using a direct current(DC)air plasma treatment and hence enhances its hydrophilicity.The Box-Behnken approach(design expert software)was used to optimise the input process parameters.The sample prepared under optimized condition is subjected to ATR-FTIR and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy(FESEM)studies in order to determine the changes in hydrogen bond energies(EH),Total Crystallinity Index(TCI),Hydrogen Bond Intensity(HBI),Lateral Order Index(LOI),functionalization,lattice parameters(a,b,c&β),degree of crystallinity(in%)and surface etching.The ageing of this sample has been studied by comparing the values of carboxyl content and AC-C/AC-O-C ratio calculated using data extracted from ATR-FTIR spectra of the sample recorded periodically for one month.

Air bubble breakup in shear water flows generated by a plug conduit:An experimental investigation

In the context of a sudden contraction plug conduit,the near-wall area experiences a significant shearing effect of water flow,however,the extent to which this shearing effect occurs in bubble-water flow and the related variation mechanisms of air bubble size and number remain unclear.This study employs a model test method to investigate the diffusion process of bubble-water flow in a sudden contraction plug conduit.The size and number of bubbles,as well as their distribution along the shearing section under varying initial air volume conditions,are studied in detail using a high-speed image acquisition system.The experimental findings reveal a self-similar relationship between the number and size of bubbles and their cross-sectional distribution over time.The bubble number and size vary in three stages,i.e.,quasi-suspension,shearing,and shearing completion stages.The direction perpendicular to the conduit exhibits peak values in bubble number distribution over the three stages,with peak value location varying with the near-wall area.As time progresses,the peak value increases,and a larger initial air volume corresponds to a smaller distance of the peak value location from the wall.The size of air bubbles near the wall is consistent with the minimum diameter of air bubbles in shear flow and is hardly affected by the initial air volume.These results aid in comprehending the change law of two-phase water and air flow under a strong shearing effect in the plug conduit,and provide useful insights for hydraulic design in fluid engineering.

NUMERICAL EXPERIMENT WITH PROCESSES FOR EFFECT OF AUSTRALIAN COLD AIR ACTIVITY ON EAST-ASIAN SUMMER MONSOON

Based on diagnostic results,a numerical study is made of the processes of Australian cold air activity affecting East Asian summer monsoon by using Kuo-Qian P-σ incorporated coordinate five-layer primitive equation spherical band model.Analysis is done of the response to the Southern Hemisphere circulation with and without cold air activity in Australia of the flow,rainfall and diabatic heating fields in the monsoon area of Asia,especially,East Asia,with special attention to the intensification and northward march of the monsoon due to the activity.It is found that the processes for the effect transmission are very analogous to the meridional propagation of quasi-40-day oscillation,together with the meridional wind disturbance showing south-north travel and the flow/rainfall fields exhibitirg corresponding movement in this direction,only with a 12-day lag.

Fe203-CeO2-Bi203/y-AI203 catalyst in the catalytic wet air oxidation （CWAO） of cationic red GTL under mild reaction conditions

The Fe203-CeO2-Bi203/-A1203 catalyst, a novel environmental-friendly material, was used to investigate the catalytic wet air oxidation （CWAO） of cationic red GTL under mild operating conditions in a batch reactor. The catalyst was prepared by wet impregnation, and characterized by special surface area （BET measurement）, X-ray diffraction （XRD） and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy （XPS）. The Fe203-CeO2-]]i203/qt-A1203 catalyst exhibited good catalytic activity and stability in the CWAO under atmosphere pressure. The effect of the reaction conditions （catalyst loading, degradation temperature, solution concentration and initial solution pH value） was studied. The result showed that the decolorization efficiency of cationic red GTL was improved with increasing the initial solution pH value and the degradation temperature. The apparent activation energy for the reaction was 79 kJ. mo1-1. Hydroperoxy radicals （HO2.） and superoxide radicals （O2-） appeared as the main reactive species upon the CWAO of cationic red GTL.