A novel Ag/ZnO core-shell structure for efficient sterilization synergizing antibiotics and subsequently removing residuals

The massive use of antibiotics has led to the aggravation of bacterial resistance and also brought environmental pollution problems.This poses a great threat to human health.If the dosage of antibiotics is reduced by increasing its bactericidal performance,the emergence of drug resistance is certainly delayed,so that there's not enough time for developing drug resistance during treatment.Therefore,we selected typical representative materials of metal Ag and semiconductor ZnO nano-bactericides to design and synthesize Ag/ZnO hollow core-shell structures(AZ for short).Antibiotics are grafted on the surface of AZ through rational modification to form a composite sterilization system.The research results show that the antibacterial efficiency of the composite system is significantly increased,from the sum(34.7%+22.8%-57.5%)of the antibacterial efficiency of AZ and gentamicin to 80.2%,net synergizes 22.7%,which fully reflects the effect of 1+1>2.Therefore,the dosage of antibiotics can be drastically reduced in this way,which makes both the possibility of bacterial resistance and medical expenses remarkably decrease.Subsequently,residual antibiotics can be degraded under simple illumination using AZ-self as a photocatalyst,which cuts off the path of environmental pollution.In short,such an innovative route has guiding significance for drug resistance.

FPGA-based plasma sterilization device for wound-edge recognition

There is a currently a lack of large-area plasma sterilization devices that can intelligently identify the shape of a wound for automatic steriliza-tion.For this reason,in this work,a plasma sterilization device with wound-edge recognition was developed using afield-programmable gate array(FPGA)and a high-performance image-processing platform to realize intelligent and precise sterilization of wounds.SOLIDWORKS was used to design the mechanical structure of the device,and it was manufactured using 3D printing.The device used an improvement of the traditional Sobel detection algorithm,which extends the detection of edges in only the x and y directions to eight directions(0○,45○,90○,135○,180○,225○,270○,and 315○),completing the wound-edge detection by adaptive thresholding.The device can be controlled according to different shapes of sterilization area to adjust the positioning of a single plasma-jet tube in the horizontal plane for two-dimensional move-ment;the distance between the plasma-jet tube and the surface of the object to be sterilized can be also adjusted in the vertical direction.In this way,motors are used to move the plasma jet and achieve automatic,efficient,and accurate plasma sterilization.It was found that a good sterilization effect could be achieved at both the culture-medium level and the biological-tissue level.The ideal sterilization parameters at the culture-medium level were a speed of 2 mm/s and aflow rate of 0.6 slm,while at the biological-tissue level,these values were 1 mm/s and 0.6 slm,respectively.

Sterilization Effect of Cooking Process for Guilin Rice Noodles Based on Heat Conduction Model

Guilin rice noodles, a unique cuisine from Guilin, Guangxi, is renowned both domestically and internationally as one of the top ten “Guilin Classics”. Utilizing a heat conduction model, this study explores the effectiveness of the cooking process in sterilizing Guilin rice noodles before consumption. The model assumes that a large pot is filled with boiling water which is maintained at a constant high temperature heat resource through continuous gentle heating. And the room temperature is set as the initial temperature for the preheating process and the final temperature for the cooling process. The objective is to assess whether the cooking process achieves satisfactory sterilization results. The temperature distribution function of rice noodle with time is analytically obtained using the separation of variables method in the three-dimensional cylindrical coordinate system. Meanwhile, the thermal diffusion coefficient of Guilin rice noodles is obtained in terms of Riedel’ theory. By analyzing the elimination characteristics of Pseudomonas cocovenenans subsp. farinofermentans, this study obtains the optimal time required for effective sterilization at the core of Guilin rice noodles. The results show that the potential Pseudomonas cocovenenans subsp. farinofermentans will be completely eliminated through continuously preheating more than 31 seconds during the cooking process before consumption. This study provides a valuable reference of food safety standards in the cooking process of Guilin rice noodles, particularly in ensuring the complete inactivation of potentially harmful strains such as Pseudomonas cocovenenans subsp. farinofermentans.

Evaluation of the Impact of Refined Quality Control Management Model on the Qualified Rate of Disinfection and Sterilization of Surgical Instruments in the Sterilization Supply Center

Objective:To evaluate the application value of a refined quality control management model for a sterilization supply center.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the work situation of the sterilization supply center from January 2021 to January 2023.The work situation before January 31,2022,was classified as the control group;a routine quality control management model was implemented,and the work situation after January 31,2022,was classified as the observation group.The quality of medical device management and department satisfaction between the two groups were compared.Results:The timely recovery and supply rate,classification and cleaning pass rate,disinfection pass rate,packaging pass rate,sterilization pass rate,and department satisfaction score in the observation group were all higher than those of the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:Implementing a refined quality control management model in the sterilization supply center can improve the quality management level of medical devices and department satisfaction and is worthy of promotion.

Risk Assessment of Hydrogen Peroxide Low- Temperature Plasma Sterilization Using Different Monitoring Methods

Objective:This study aims to evaluate the application value of biological monitoring and different types of chemical indicator cards in batch monitoring of hydrogen peroxide low-temperature plasma sterilization.The goal is to standardize the selection of loading conditions for this sterilization method and avoid positive biological monitoring results.Methods:Physical monitoring,Class I chemical indicator card monitoring,Class IV chemical indicator card monitoring,and biological monitoring were used to monitor the hydrogen peroxide low-temperature plasma sterilization process.The sterilization effect on instruments inside the Johnson&Johnson 100S plasma sterilizer was monitored and the qualification of various monitoring methods was compared.Results:The comparison showed that when non-standard or adsorption-prone packaging materials were used,the interception rate of biological monitoring and Class IV chemical indicator cards was significantly higher than that of physical monitoring and Class I chemical indicator cards.These methods more intuitively and effectively detected sterilization failures.Conclusion:Biological monitoring and Class IV chemical indicator cards are safe,fast,accurate,and easy to interpret in hydrogen peroxide low-temperature plasma sterilization,especially for monitoring instruments inside packages.They provide a reliable basis for the release of sterilized instrument packages.Identifying the reasons for positive biological monitoring results in hydrogen peroxide low-temperature plasma sterilization and taking effective measures promptly can minimize associated risks.

Recent developments in deep-ultraviolet sterilization of human respiratory RNA viruses

Deep-ultraviolet(DUV)sterilization technology using DUV-LEDs has attracted considerable attention owing to its portability,eco-friendliness,high potency,and broad-spectrum sterilization.This study compiles the developments of recent DUV sterilization research.Recent works have investigated DUV sterilization from the perspective of device improvement and principle investigation:one employed a novel epitaxial structure to optimize the performance and fabrication cost of DUV-LEDs and realized potent virus disinfection effects for various respiratory RNA viruses,and another work explained the disinfection phenomenon of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants(Delta and Omicron)in a cryogenic environment.These studies have contributed significantly to the development of DUV sterilization.

Improving plasma sterilization by constructing a plasma photocatalytic system with a needle array corona discharge and Au plasmonic nanocatalyst

Efficient sterilization by a plasma photocatalytic system(PPS)requires strong synergy between plasma and photocatalyst to inactivate microorganisms while suppressing the formation of secondary pollutants.Here,we report that a PPS constructed from a needle array corona discharge and Au/TiO2plasmonic nanocatalyst could remarkably improve the sterilization of Escherichia coli(E.coli)and alleviate formation of the discharge pollutant O3.At 6 kV,the combination of corona discharge and Au/TiO2achieves sterilization efficiency of 100%within an exposure time of 5 min.At 5 kV and an exposure time of 8 min,the presence of Au/TiO2improves sterilization efficiency of the corona discharge from 73%to 91%and reduces the O3concentration from 0.38 to 0.04 ppm,whereas the presence of TiO2reduces the sterilization efficiency and O3concentration to 66%and 0.17 ppm,respectively.The Au/TiO2in the PPS enables a uniform corona discharge,enhances the interaction between plasma,E.coli and nanocatalysts,and suppresses the formation of O3.Further,the Au/TiO2can be excited by ultraviolet-visible light emitted from the plasma to generate electron-hole pairs,and thus contributes to the formation of reactive radicals and the oxidative inactivation of E.coli.The PPS constructed from a needle array corona discharge and Au-based plasmonic nanocatalyst provides a promising approach for developing high-efficiency sterilization techniques.

Effects of Different Sample Parts and Sterilization Methods on Contamination and Survival Rates of Shoots with Buds in Chinese Chestnut

In this study,we investigated the preferable explant types and sterilization method for tissue culture in Chinese chestnut,in order to provide a technical support for the asexual reproduction of Chinese chestnut.The base,middle and apex parts of annual shoots with buds in Chinese chestnut were sampled and cut to 2-3 cm stem segments each with one bud,then sterilized orderly with different duration in 2%NaClO plus 0.1%HgCl_(2)solutions.The results indicated that the duration of 2%NaClO for 20 min+0.1%HgCl_(2)for 15 min exerted an effective disinfection property on the middle parts of annual shoots with buds,and achieved a contamination rate under 5%and a survival rate over 90%.

Effects of Different Sterilization Conditions on Active Components and Flavor of Apple Vinegar

[Objectives]To explore the effects of different sterilization conditions on nutrition and flavor of apple vinegar.[Methods]Five kinds of high temperature short time(HTST)sterilization conditions were selected to treat apple vinegar,and the volatile aroma components and the content of active components in apple vinegar before and after sterilization were analyzed.[Results]Compared with the control,the contents of total acid and malic acid in the samples after sterilization changed little,but the contents of citric acid increased significantly(P<0.01),and the contents of total phenols,ascorbic acid and total flavonoids decreased.Ethyl acetate,isopentyl acetate,ethyl caprylate,phenethyl acetate,1-pentanol,phenylethyl alcohol,acetic acid,and sec-butyl ether were the characteristic aroma components which contributed to the flavor of apple vinegar.As sterilization temperature increased,the content of esters decreased,while the content of acids,alcohols and aldehydes increased.The contents of nutrition,active components and volatile aroma components in apple vinegar under 100℃and 30 s sterilization conditions had little change compared with other sterilization conditions,so 100℃and 30 s were the optimal sterilization conditions.[Conclusions]Under different sterilization conditions,the content of flavor components in apple vinegar will change greatly,which will affect the quality of apple vinegar.

Oriented Generation of Novel Thermo-Sensitive Genic Male Sterile Lines with Improved Grain Shape and Outcrossing Rate in Early-Season Rice

Two-line hybrid rice with excellent quality is preferred in the Chinese market.However,there is a trade-off between reducing costs for hybrid seed production and lowering the outcrossing rate of the sterile line,which is largely determined by the stigma exsertion rate(SER).In this study,we constructed mutants of male sterility lines with improved grain length(GL)and SER in three elite early-season indica rice varieties through targeted manipulation of the TMS5 and GS3 genes using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated multiplex systems.We obtained a series of marker-free gs3 single mutants and gs3tms5 double mutants with significantly higher SER,longer grains,and increased 1000-grain weight compared with the wild type(WT).Importantly,the typically thermo-sensitive genic male sterile(TGMS)trait with a higher SER was observed in gs3tms5 mutants,and their F1 hybrids exhibited remarkable improvements in grain shape and yield-related traits.Our findings provided an efficient method to generate new valuable TGMS germplasm with improved SER through the mutagenesis of GS3 and TMS5 synergistically,and demonstrated that GS3 had pleiotropic effects on grain size,SER,and grain quality in early-season indica rice.

Advances in DNA methylation and its role in cytoplasmic male sterility in higher plants

The impact of epigenetic modifications like DNA methylation on plant phenotypes has expanded the possibilities for crop development.DNA methylation plays a part in the regulation of both the chromatin structure and gene expression,and the enzyme involved,DNA methyltransferase,executes the methylation process within the plant genome.By regulating crucial biological pathways,epigenetic changes actively contribute to the creation of the phenotype.Therefore,epigenome editing may assist in overcoming some of the drawbacks of genome editing,which can have minor off-target consequences and merely facilitate the loss of a gene’s function.These drawbacks include gene knockout,which can have such off-target effects.This review provides examples of several molecular characteristics of DNA methylation,as well as some plant physiological processes that are impacted by these epigenetic changes in the plants.We also discuss how DNA alterations might be used to improve crops and meet the demands of sustainable and environmentally-friendly farming.

Fine mapping and cloning of the sterility gene Bra2Ms in nonheading Chinese cabbage(Brassica rapa ssp.chinensis)

The application of a male-sterile line is an ideal approach for hybrid seed production in non-heading Chinese cabbage(Brassica rapa ssp.chinensis).However,the molecular mechanisms underlying male sterility in B.rapa are still largely unclear.We previously obtained the natural male sterile line WS24-3 of non-heading Chinese cabbage and located the male sterile locus,Bra2Ms,on the A2 chromosome.Cytological observations revealed that the male sterility of WS24-3 resulted from disruption of the meiosis process during pollen formation.Fine mapping of Bra2Ms delimited the locus within a physical distance of about 129 kb on the A2 chromosome of B.rapa.The Bra039753 gene encodes a plant homeodomain(PHD)-finger protein and is considered a potential candidate gene for Bra2Ms.Bra039753 was significantly downregulated in sterile line WS24-3 compared to the fertile line at the meiotic anther stage.Sequence analysis of Bra039753 identified a 369 bp fragment insertion in the first exon in male sterile plants,which led to an amino acid insertion in the Bra039753 protein.In addition,the 369 bp fragment insertion was found to cosegregate with the male sterility trait.This study identified a novel locus related to male sterility in non-heading Chinese cabbage,and the molecular marker obtained in this study will be beneficial for the marker-assisted selection of excellent sterile lines in non-heading Chinese cabbage and other Brassica crops.

Ozone Sterilizer for Treatment and Health Care

Ozone is a green broad-spectrum bactericidal disinfectant, and a trace amount of ozone in the atmosphere makes many viruses and bacteria lose their biochemical activity and infectivity. Nature produces trace amounts of ozone in the air through lightning to purify the ecological environment. The product of ozone decomposition is oxygen, without secondary pollution. Ozone sterilizer is widely used in the epidemic prevention and control of intensive breeding farms and achieved remarkable results. If the concentration and action time of ozone can be accurately controlled, then ozone can quickly eliminate pathogens, without harming the normal cells in the human body. How to use medical ozone for epidemic prevention, treatment and health care is a subject worthy of serious study, which should arouse the attention of the experts in the field.

Rice AGL1 determines grain size and sterile lemma identity

The grass spikelet is a unique inflorescence structure that determines grain size.Although many genetic factors have been well characterized for grain size and glume development,the underlying molecular mechanisms in rice are far from established.Here,we isolated rice gene,AGL1 that controlled grain size and determines the fate of the sterile lemma.Loss of function of AGL1 produced larger grains and reduced the size of the sterile lemma.Larger grains in the agl1 mutant were caused by a larger number of cells that were longer and wider than in the wild type.The sterile lemma in the mutant spikelet was converted to a rudimentary glume-like organ.Our findings showed that the AGL1(also named LAX1)protein positively regulated G1 expression,and negatively regulated NSG1 expression,thereby affecting the fate of the sterile lemma.Taken together,our results revealed that AGL1 played a key role in negative regulation of grain size by controlling cell proliferation and expansion,and supported the opinion that rudimentary glume and sterile lemma in rice are homologous organs.

Study on Explants Sterilization and Callus Induction of Aquilegia oxysepala

[Objective] The aim was to study the explants sterilization and callus induction of Aquilegia oxysepala.[Method] the seeds of Aquilegia oxysepala were sterilized by different kinds and concentrations of disinfectants,and the pollution rate and pollution speed were investigated so as to find the best way to build sterile seedling setup.Taking the roots,stem segments and leaves of the sterile seedlings from Aquilegia oxysepala seeds as explants,the optimum explants and medium were screened by adding MS basic medium with different hormone proportions.[Result] The best germicidal treatment was as follows：explants were soaked in 75% alcohol for 30 s firstly,washed by sterile water for 5 times,then soaked in 0.2% mercuric chloride liquid for 2 min,finally washed by sterile water for 5 times again.The sterilization treatment could get the lowest pollution rate,the highest germinating capacity and the best sterile seedling.Roots were the optimum explants for the callus induction of Aquilegia oxysepala,meanwhile the optimal medium was MS＋0.6 mg/L 2,4-D＋0.5 mg/L 6-BA.[Conclusion] The research provides technical support for the large scale production of Aquilegia oxysepala and also makes a contribution to the medicinal and ornamental value of Aquilegia oxysepala.

Sterilization Effect on Microorganisms by High Electrostatic Voltage

利用静电高压在室温条件下做了两种细菌和一种真菌(金黄色葡萄球菌,绿脓杆菌和白色念珠菌)的灭菌实验。实验中用了星形线和芒刺极两种电极结构,研究了这三种菌的存活率与电压、电晕功率和处理时间的关系。作者等也研究了正、负高压。正、负脉冲高压和交流高压对灭菌效果的影响。实验结果表明,适当选取条件,这三种菌完全可被电晕放电场杀死。静电灭菌是一种新方法,到目前为止,特别是对非液体物质的静电灭菌,尚未见报道。尽管这一技术还需进一步研究,但它为寻找新的灭菌途径提供了可能。

The Sterilization Technology of Medicinal Flowers

This paper reviewed the latest progress on the sterilization technology of medicinal flowers, and briefly introduced its principle and application. Compared with the traditional chemical sterilization and autoclave sterilization techniques, irradiation sterilization, light radiation sterilization and gas sterilization own their unique advan- tages for different drugs sterilization requirements, which are worth further promotion.

Radiation sterilization of tissue allografts:A review

Tissue substitutes are required in a number of clinical conditions for treatment of injured and diseased tissues.Tissues like bone,skin,amniotic membrane and soft tissues obtained from human donor can be used for repair or reconstruction of the injured part of the body.Allograft tissues from human donor provide an excellent alternative to autografts.However,major concern with the use of allografts is the risk of infectious disease transmission.Therefore,tissue allografts should be sterilized to make them safe for clinical use.Gamma radiation has several advantages and is the most suitable method for sterilization of biological tissues.This review summarizes the use of gamma irradiation technology as an effective method for sterilization of biological tissues and ensuring safety of tissue allografts.

The Effect of Air Plasma on Sterilization of Escherichia coli in Dielectric Barrier Discharge

In this work, a Dielectric Barrier Discharge （DBD） air plasma was used to sterilize Escherichia eoli （E. coli） on the surface of medical Polyethylene Terephthalate （PET） film. The leakage of cellular DNA and protein by optical absorbance measurement at 260 nm and 280 nm, together with transmission electron microscopy （TEM） about cell morphology were performed after sterilization to analyse inactivation mechanisms. The results indicated that the DBD air plasma was very effective in E. coli sterilization. The plasma germicidal efficiency depended on the plasma treatment time, the air-gap distance, and the applied voltage. Within 5 min of plasma treatment, the germicidal efficiency against E. coli could reach 99.99%. An etching action on cell membranes by electrons, ions and radicals is the primary mechanism for DBD air plasma sterilization, which leads to the effusion of cellular contents （DNA and protein） and bacterial death.

Effects of sterilization treatments on the analysis of TOC in water samples

Decomposition experiments conducted with and without microbial processes are commonly used to study the effects of environmental microorganisms on the degradation of organic pollutants.However,the effects of biological pretreatment （sterilization） on organic matter often have a negative impact on such experiments.Based on the principle of water total organic carbon （TOC） analysis,the effects of physical sterilization treatments on determination of TOC and other water quality parameters were investigated.The results revealed that two conventional physical sterilization treatments,autoclaving and 60 Co γ-radiation sterilization,led to the direct decomposition of some organic pollutants,resulting in remarkable errors in the analysis of TOC in water samples.Furthermore,the extent of the errors varied with the intensity and the duration of sterilization treatments.Accordingly,a novel sterilization method for water samples,0.45 μm micro-filtration coupled with ultraviolet radiation （MCUR）,was developed in the present study.The results indicated that the MCUR method was capable of exerting a high bactericidal effect on the water sample while significantly decreasing the negative impact on the analysis of TOC and other water quality parameters.Before and after sterilization treatments,the relative errors of TOC determination could be controlled to lower than 3% for water samples with different categories and concentrations of organic pollutants by using MCUR.