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Adlay millet seeds are well known for excellent health benefits. However, using fungal fermentation to improve their nutritional and functional constituents and the underlying mechanisms has not been thoroughly investigated. Herein, we used Rhizopus oryzae as starter and applied metabolomics combining with quantitative verification to understand the changes of the nutritional and functional profiles of adlay millet seeds. Results showed that a total of 718 metabolites from 18 compound classes were identified. The fermentation with R. oryzae varied 203 differential metabolites, of which 184 became more abundant and 19 got less abundant, and many components such as amino acids, nucleotides, vitamins, flavonoids, terpenoids, and phenols significantly increased after the fermentation process. Interestingly, we found that R. oryzae synthesized high levels of two important beneficial compounds, S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) and β-Nicotinamide mononucleotide (β-NMN), with their contents increased from 0.56 to 370.26 μg/g and 0.55 to 8.32 μg/g, respectively. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis of enriched metabolites revealed the amino acid metabolic pathways were important for conversion of the primary and secondary metabolites. Specifically, aspartate can up-regulate the biosynthesis of SAMe and β-NMN. These findings improved our understanding into the effects of R. oryzae fermentation on enhancing the nutritional and functional values of cereal foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) is generally used for malolactic fermentation during the alcoholic fermentation process of fruit wine, and significantly improves the color and flavor of fruit wine. However, studies on the influence of L. plantarum on the quality of fruit vinegar are rare. Therefore, the effects of L. plantarum 90 on the quality of mango vinegar (MV) at different fermentation stages were investigated. Gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS), liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC‒MS/MS) and sensory analysis were combined to analyze the effect of cofermentation of L. plantarum 90 on the flavor and taste characteristics of MV during alcoholic fermentation and acetic acid fermentation. The results showed that the use of L. plantarum 90 enhanced the contents of total titratable acid (TTA), vitamin C and other organic acids. Moreover, the relative content of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in MV was affected by the use of L. plantarum 90. Thus, the cofermentation of L. plantarum 90 effectively improved the flavor and taste of MV, thereby indicating additional economic benefits of fermentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flower organ development is one of the most important processes in plant life. However, onion CMS (cytoplasmic male sterility) shows an abnormal development of floral organs. The regulation of MADS-box transcription factors is important for flower development. To further understand the role of MADS-box transcription factors in the regulation of cytoplasmic male sterility onions. We cloned the full-length cDNA of five MADS-box transcription factors from the flowers of onion using RACE (rapid amplification of cDNA ends) technology. We used bioinformatics methods for sequence analysis and phylogenetic analysis. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect the expression patterns of these genes in different onion organs. The relative expression levels of five flower development genes were compared in CMS onions and wild onions. The results showed that the full-length cDNA sequences of the cloned MADS-box genes AcFUL, AcDEF, AcPI, AcAG, and AcSEP3 belonged to A, B, C, and E MADS-box genes, respectively. A phylogenetic tree construction analysis was performed on its sequence. Analysis of MADS-box gene expression in wild onion and CMS onion showed that the formation of CMS onion was caused by down-regulation of AcDEF, AcPI, and AcAG gene expression, up-regulation of AcSEP3 gene expression, and no correlation with AcFUL gene expression. This work laid the foundation for further study of the molecular mechanism of onion flower development and the molecular mechanism of CMS onion male sterility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The enrichment of cadmium (Cd) in black shale–derived soils is of increasing concern due to its wide occurrence, high Cd concentrations, and potential risks. However, characteristics of enrichment and environmental availability of Cd in these soils are not well understood, which has restricted pollution control and land management. In this study, agricultural soils with elevated Cd concentrations resulting from weathering of Cd-bearing black shale in southwestern China were collected and analyzed. The results showed that Cd could be retained in soils through mechanical inheritance and/or associated with secondary minerals and organic materials. Cd concentrations in soils of the study area ranged between 0.83 and 21.6 mg/kg (average of 5.20 mg/kg), exceeding the risk screening value for agricultural land in China. The heterogeneity of Cd in these soils was highly related to geochemical composition of parent rock and other natural factors. The 0.01 M CaCl2 and 0.05 M EDTA extraction showed that Cd in these soils had high environmental availability and potential risks. Mobile Cd pool (CaCl2 extractable Cd, average: 0.24 mg/kg) accounted for 0.07–38.9% of the total Cd, depending on soil pH. Mobilizable Cd pool (EDTA extractable Cd, average: 2.18 mg/kg) accounted for 22.0–100%. These results showed the significance of geochemical background on enrichment of Cd in soils, documented high environmental availability of Cd in black shale–derived soils, and influence of soil pH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sichuan Basin contains the most prolific marine potash salt deposits in China. Although a vast amount of polyhalite has been found in the Triassic Jialingjiang Formation, the production of soluble potash deposits has yet to begin. The origin and sedimentary environment of polyhalite has remained unclear, and this information could have a significant economic impact. The recent discovery of protogenetic polyhalite co-existing with halite crystals in cores from the early Triassic Jialingjiang Formation in eastern Sichuan Basin provides vital clues to its origin and depositional environment. Two types of polyhalite have been identified, through the examination of sedimentary textures and fabrics, mineral composition and contents, and major and trace elements from cores. The first type is protogenetic polyhalite, which co-exists and is commingled with halite crystals. The second type is secondary in origin with a radiating texture and was formed by the metasomatism of gypsum. Triassic polyhalite and halite was deposited during periods of freshwater and sylvite-saturated, evaporated seawater mixing. Further dilution of the freshwater resulted in gypsum precipitation among the halite crystals. After periods of desalination, increasing evaporation leads to the formation of highly concentrated and dense brines that are rich in potassium and magnesium. These heavy brines sink downward through intercrystalline pores and fractures, replacing gypsum with polyhalite through metasomatism. These sequential phenomena occur because the Triassic marine basins were relatively small and tectonically active. Although these shallow, small salt basins can have a fast concentration rate, they can be easily desalinated by the peripheral freshwater input in an overall arid but fluctuating arid and wet climate. The alternating periods of evaporation and desalination are responsible for the formation of soluble potassium salt deposits. Our proposed mechanisms provide useful information for understanding the distribution of polyhalite. These mechanisms can be used to guide future exploration and production of Triassic marine potash salts in the periphery of the Tethys Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the northeastern Tethys Ocean in the early–middle Triassic, the Sichuan Basin was one of three regions where marine strata developed. Several periods of transgressions and regressions during that time contributed to the development of marine evaporites. The presence of extremely thick evaporites is a basic geological condition for potash formation that is exhibited in the Sichuan Basin, which has been an important region for the exploration of marine potash. The evaporites in the Sichuan Basin are abundant in bromine and possess high bromo-chloro coefficients. Although chlorine isotope values vary significantly within regions, they are relatively low and are similar to the negative values found in the Hechuan and Changshou areas. Comparative studies have been conducted regarding chlorine isotope values in the Sichuan Basin and in other prominent potash-forming basins with results, indicating that sea water concentrations had reached the late stages in the early–middle Triassic and a potential presence of potassium and magnesium salts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus species in sediment cores obtained from a representative riverine wetland were determined and organic phosphorus was distinguished with phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance (P-NMR) spectroscopy. The concentrations and distributions of orthophosphate, orthophosphate monoester, orthophosphate diester and pyrophosphate were subsequently characterized. Total phosphorus, total inorganic phosphorus and total organic phosphorus decreased from the top to bottom layer of sediment on the whole. Organic phosphorus was primarily detected in surface sediment layers and scarce toward the bottom, and orthophosphate as a proportion of total organic phosphorus was much higher than other species which was attributed to mineralization as a result of high dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations. Furthermore, significant positive correlation was observed between alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) and phosphorus fractions suggesting that APA could hydrolyze organic phosphorus into inorganic phosphorus even at high phosphorus concentrations. Significant correlation was also observed between Fe/Al and phosphorus species showed organic phosphorus adsorbed to Fe/Al might be released from sediments and transformed to inorganic phosphorus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To systematically analyze the diagnostic accuracy of Raman spectroscopy system (RAS) in the rapid diagnosis of gastric cancer with histopathology as the reference standard. Methods: We searched a wide range of electronic databases for all published researches that assessed the diagnostic accuracy of RAS to detect gastric carcinoma. Full papers were obtained for potentially eligible studies and evaluated according to predefined criteria. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies checklist was used to assess the quality of included studies. From each study, we extracted information on diagnostic performance of RAS. After exploring heterogeneity, we adopted a random effects model to pool related effect sizes. Results: The initial literature search identified 257 reference articles in which 15 relevant articles with 15 data sets were selected and reviewed. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of RAS in diagnosing gastric cancer were 0.89 (95 % CI 0.84-0.92) and 0.92 (95 % CI 0.88-0.95), respectively. The positive likelihood ratio, the negative likelihood ratio, and the area under the curve were 10 (95 % CI 6.5-15.3), 0.13 (95 % CI 0.08-0.22), and 0.96 (95 % CI 0.94-0.97), respectively. All the pooled estimates, calculated by random and fixed effect models, were similar. There was no evidence of considerable publication bias. Conclusions: RAS is an objective and sensitive optical diagnostic technology for detecting gastric cancer and has advantages of being noninvasive to the body, real-time diagnosis, and ease of use. Consequently, it does deserve to be recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oxygen isotopic values of aquatic plant cellulose and carbonates in Lake Caohai sediments were measured using a continuous flow isotopic ratio mass spectrometer (CF-IRMS). Because of predictable oxygen isotopic fractionation between cellulose and its source water, the oxygen isotopic composition of paleo-lake water has been established quantitatively. Combined oxygen isotopic values of cellulose and carbonates were used in the 'Craig' equation to determine paleotemperatures and their variation in the lake during the past 500 years. Results show that the paleotemperature trend correlates well with meteorological records from Weining. There are four notable cold intervals at Lake Caohai over the past 500 years, namely 1540-1570AD, 1670-1715AD, 1780-1870AD and 1900-1930AD, and the former three cold intervals have been observed in the conventional Little Ice Age (LIA). These cold periods at Lake Caohai correspond well with those recorded from tree ring, peat, and ice core data from adjacent regions, particularly temperature those inferred from δO of peat cellulose from Hongyuan Southwestern China. The trend in paleotemperature variations at Lake Caohai are also consistent with both the change of Indian summer monsoon, derived from δO values of a stalagmite in Dongge, and a recorded shift in solar activity. The findings of this study illustrate that coupled analysis of δO values of cellulose and carbonates from lake sediments may be used as a paleotemperature proxy. These results also provide further evidence of the existence of LIA in southwestern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lacustrine sediments can provide potential information about environmental changes in the past. On the basis of high-resolution multi-proxy analysis including carbon and nitrogen contents of organic matter, C/N ratios, inorganic carbon contents, and carbon and oxygen isotopic composition of carbonate, together with precise Cs dating, the environmental evolution of Lake Chenghai, Yunnan Province, during the past 100 years has been investigated. It is shown that the carbonate in Lake Chenghai is authigenic, and the organic matter is mainly derived from aquatic plants and algae, instead of terrestrial-source materials. The environmental evolution of Lake Chenghai can be diverged into three periods with the contrasting characteristics during the past 100 years. Before 1940, the stable carbon and oxygen isotope values, the poor correlation between them and the lower carbon and nitrogen contents of organic matter suggested that Lake Chenghai was open, and the lake water was oligotrophic during that period. During 1940-1993, the negative δC values and the gradual increase of carbon and nitrogen contents of organic matter and C/N ratios indicated that the eutrophication was aggravated. The closeness of Lake Chenghai and human activities may be responsible for this eutrophication. After 1993, notable increases in carbon and oxygen isotopic values of carbonate, carbon and nitrogen contents of organic matter, C/N ratios and inorganic carbon contents demonstrated that the increase of lacustrine productivity and the serious eutrophication were resulted from strong human activities. Therefore, the multi-proxy in Lake Chenghai sediments has reliably recorded the natural environmental evolution and the impacts from human activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The carbon isotopic composition of organic matter from lake sediments has been extensively used to infer variations in productivity. In this paper, based on the study of the contents and δC values of organic matter in different types of lakes, it has been found that δC values of organic matter have different responses to lake productivity in different lakes. As to the lakes dominated by aqutic macrophytes such as Lake Caohai, organic matter becomes enriched in C with increasing productivity. As to the lakes dominated by aquatic algae such as Lake Chenghai, δC values of organic matter decrease with increasing productivity, and the degradation of aquatic algae is the main factor leading to the decrease of δC values of organic matter with increasing productivity. Therefore, we should be cautious to use the carbon isotopic composition of organic matter to deduce lake productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]