Applied Mechanics and Materials Vols. 448-453

Abstract: The main purpose of this study was to examine the effect of flavonoids from Lotus leaf (FFL) on exercise-induced oxidant stress in mice. 32 mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group, FLL low dose treated group, FLL middle dose treated group and FLL high dose treated group. The control group was given distilled water and the treated groups were given different doses of FLL (50, 100, 150 mg/kg) by gavage once a day for 28 days. 28 day later, mice were made to swim until being exhausted, and exhaustive swimming time, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities in muscle were measured. The data showed that that FFL increase the exhaustive swimming time and could elevate the exercise tolerance, as well as decrease the MDA levels, increase SOD and GSH-Px activities in muscle of mice. These results indicated that FFL has a protective effect against exercise-induced oxidative stress.

Abstract: Fetus tea was named firstly in the paper; it was a new type of tea made with tea tree seedlings those was growing before their 2 big euphyllas were adult. In the period in which tea seed germinated and 2 big euphyllas grew, tea seedling varied in morphology and ratio between leaves and stem. According to the variation of morphology and ratio between leaves and stem, five production scenarios were formulated, which were fetus crow, fetus pearl, fetus needle, fetus butterfly, white seedling, respectively. The fetus teas produced with the five production scenarios were tasted and analyzed in morphology and biochemical components, the results indicated that fetus needle and white seedling scenario had obviously developmental potential. The theanine content of fetus needle was 8.05% and 1.44 time higher than mean theanine content of tea produced in China. The development of fetus tea opened up a new way by which tea tree seed was transformed to a new product with high additional value.

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the anti-fatigue effects of Radix Astragali polysaccharides (RAP) using the forced swimming test in mice. The mice were randomly divided into four groups: one control group and three RAP-treated groups. The mice of control group received an oral administration of saline solution, and the mice of treated group received RAP (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) for 28 days. After 28 days, the mice performed the forced swimming exercise, along with the determination of some biochemical parameters related to fatigue. The data showed that RAP could increase swimming time to exhaustion, liver glycogen and muscle glycogen contents, decrease blood lactic acid and blood urea nitrogen contents. These results indicated that RAP had anti-fatigue effects. RAP may be useful for the prevention and treatment diseases related to fatigue.

Abstract: The objective of this study is to compare whether caspase-3 is activated in the M. longissimus lumborum of cows, the M. longissimus dorsi of sheep, and the breast and leg muscles of geese during the initial postmortem stage. Samples from cows were obtained at 0, 4, 8, and 24 h after slaughter. Samples from sheep and geese were taken at 0, 3, 6, 9, and 24 h. Pro-caspase-3 was cleaved into active caspase-3 during the initial postmortem stage in cow. Caspase-3 activity was found to increase gradually at 0, 4, and 24 h postmortem in cows. Pro-caspase-3 was activated at 6 and 9 h postmortem in sheep. Caspase-3 activity is not activated postmortem in the breast and leg muscles of geese. The results of this study show that caspase-3 activity differed in different species and that the changes in caspase-3 activity over time also differed in the different species.

Abstract: In the EtOH/H₂O system, by means of heating reflux, V-type amylose-n-octanol complex which B-type microcrystalline starch made a combination with n-octanol was prepared. Through single factor experiments, the effects of the starch/n-octanol ratio, the ethanol concentration, cooling rate, holding temperature and holding time on the crystallinity of the V-type amylose-n-octanol complex have been investigated. The X-ray diffraction was used to analysis the crystal structure of complex. The synthetic conditions were as follows: the starch / n-octanol ratio 10:1, the ethanol concentration 35%, holding temperature 80°C, holding time 60min and cooling rate 5°C/h.V-type amylose-n-octanol complex was prepared under the condition, the crystal structure of complex was V type and the crystallinity reached 61.29%.

Abstract: In order to maintain quality of dehydrated carrot during storage, the effect of storage temperature and packing material on dehydrated carrot was studied. Quality changing of dehydrated carrot packed in aluminum foil bag (AF) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) at low temperature or room temperature were evaluated during storage. The results showed that the quality of samples in four packing methods had a reduction. The samples in AF underwent the least reduction in quality. The thermal degradation kinetics of carotenoids in dehydrated carrot was followed the first order thermal degradation kinetics reaction. The retention of carotenoids in AF was higher than that in HDPE. The k was the least. The value of non-enzymatic browning (NEB) increased. Samples in HDPE had lower quality than the samples in AF.

Abstract: Black currant (Ribes nigrum L.) possesses excellent antioxidant activity since it is rich in a great deal of phenolics, while its major phenolics, anthocyanins, are sensitive to light. This study investigated the anthocyanins stability and antioxidant activity of black currant extracts (BCE) stored under natural outdoor/indoor light and in the dark for 25 days. The anthocyanins content and antioxidant activity significantly decreased both in the presence and absence of light (P<0.05). The degradation of anthocyanins followed first-order kinetics, and the k values in light were higher than that in the dark, which revealed that the anthocyanins were more stable in the dark. Exposure of the BCE to light accelerated the degradation of anthocyanins and the loss of antioxidant activity, while BCE stored in darkness maintained relatively higher anthocyanins content and antioxidant activity. These results suggested that the BCE rich in anthocyanins should be protected from light during storage to maintain its antioxidant activity and bioactive compounds.

Abstract: This article is dealing with the study of the process technology of the pitaya jam with the pitaya with red skin and white meat as raw material. The experimental result showed that the jam has the best liquidity and spreadcability when taking xanthan gum: 5% and the agar: 95% as thickening agent. The best formula of the pitaya jam, through the orthogonal test, is A2B3C1D2, say, the pitaya jam: 40%, sugar: 10%, thickening agent: 0.02%, citric acid: 8%. Using this formula, the pitaya jam will gain such properties as special faint scent, moderate sour-sweet taste and uniform texture.

Abstract: Flax, a kind of natural fiber, has been widely applied as reinforcing materials for polymer composites because of its superior tensile properties. It normally contains noncellulose portions and other impurities, which could act as stress concentration regions to affect negatively the mechanical properties of composites. In this work, canadian linseed flax (F1) was treated by alkali to remove the noncellulose portions and impurities. The treated F1 was characterized in detail applying SEM, FTIR, TGA and single fiber tensile test for its promising application in composites as natural material. The proper condition of alkali treatment was explored and determined to be 2% of NaOH for 1h at 80°C. Under this condition, the mechanical property of the fiber was 10% better than that of untreated F1, and the non-cellulose portion removing ratio was more than 25% without hurting fiber structure.

Abstract: Color of grape berry changed a lot during ripening that might reflect the maturity of table grape. In this study, the color difference of Kyoho grape skin was analyzed by CR-400 chroma meter, and the value of L^*, a^* and b^* were measured at different stages of maturity. The results showed that the value of L^* and b^* decreased along with maturity, which reflected in the color of the grape skin turning darker and bluer. In addition, the value of a^* increased continuously until 80% maturation and then decreased after this stage of ripeness. Results of correlation analysis showed that the value of L^*, a^*, b^* and maturity were highly correlative (p < 0.01). Maturity was significant negatively related to L^* and b^*, and positively related to a^*. There was negative correlation between a^* and L^*, b^*, while significant positive relation between L^* and b^*.