Search

Paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) is widely ensiled to feed sheep in southwestern China, as unconventional woody forage. Feeding lambs with paper mulberry silage (PMS) may improve certain feeding characteristics, thereby affecting the growth performance and meat quality. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of four diets of PMS on growth performance, rumen microbial composition, and muscle fatty acids profile in Hu lambs. The results showed that 30% and 40% PMS increased the dry matter intake and average daily gain of Hu lambs compared to the control group. PMS30 and PMS40 increased the content of C24:1, and PMS40 increased the content of C20:5n-3. The content of microbial protein (MCP) was higher in PMS40 than in others, but PMS30 and PMS40 reduced the total volatile fatty acid in rumen. PMS30 significantly increased the ratio of acetic acid to propionic acid. The abundance of ruminal Christensenellaceae_R-7_group and norank_f_Eubacterium_coprostanoligenes_group was significantly higher in PMS30 and PMS40 groups. Moreover, Christensenellaceae_R-7_group had a significant positive correlation with n3-polyunsaturated fatty acid. PMS40 might lead to a relatively high content of unsaturated fatty acids in longissimus dorsi muscle by increasing the relative abundance of Christensenellaceae_R-7_group in rumen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Modern Laboratory Medicine is the property of Journal of Modern Laboratory Medicine Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this work, a rapid and accurate strategy for classification of Chinese traditional cereal vinegars (CTCV) and antioxidant property predication was proposed by using the combination fluorescence spectroscopy and machine learning. Three characteristic fluorescent components were extracted by parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC), which have correlations greater than 0.8 with antioxidant activity of CTCV obtained by Pearson correlation analysis. Machine learning methods, including linear discriminant analysis (LDA), partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and N-way partial least squares discriminant analysis (N-PLS-DA), were used for the classification of different types of CTCV, and the correct classification rates was higher than 97%. The antioxidant property of CTCV were further quantified by using optimized variable-weighted least-squares support vector machine based on particle swarm optimization (PSO-VWLS-SVM). The proposed strategy provides a basis for further research on antioxidant active ingredients and antioxidant mechanisms of CTCV, and enable the continued exploration and application of CTCV from different types., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

To understand the deterioration of vinegar that has frequently occurred in China recently and to address such a concern, the physicochemical indicators and bacterial structure of the spoiled vinegar collected from Sichuan were preliminarily investigated. Results showed that Lactobacillaceae was most likely responsible for the decrease of vinegar total sugar and furfural, through which total acid and furfuryl alcohol were generated. Then, an unreported difficult-to-cultivate gas-producing bacterium named Z-1 was isolated using a modified MRS medium. Strain Z-1 was identified as Acetilactobacillus jinshanensis subsp. aerogenes on the basis of physiological, biochemical, molecular biological and whole genome analyses. According to the investigation, such species was present throughout the fermentation process and not limited in Sichuan. The analysis of genetic diversity indicated that all the obtained A. jinshanensis isolates displayed high sequence similarity and an absence of recombination. Although it demonstrated acid resistance, Z-1 could be completely deactivated through heating (60 °C). Based on the above results, suggestions for safe production are made for vinegar enterprises., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: As the dry rhizome of Anemone raddeana Regel, Rhizoma Anemones Raddeanae (RAR), which belongs to Ranunculaceae, is usually used to treat wind and cold symptoms, hand-foot disease and spasms, joint pain and ulcer pain in China. It is well known that the efficacy of RAR can be distinctly enhanced by processing with vinegar due to the reduced toxicity and side effects. However, the entry of vinegar into liver channels can cause a series of problems. In this paper, the differences in the acute toxicity, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects between RAR and vinegar-processed RAR were compared in detail. The changes in the chemical compositions between RAR and vinegar-processed RAR were investigated, and the mechanism of vinegar processing was also explored., Methods: Acute toxicity experiments were used to examine the toxicity of vinegar-processed RAR. A series of studies, such as the writhing reaction, ear swelling experiment, complete Freund's adjuvant-induced rat foot swelling experiment and cotton granuloma, in experimental mice was conducted to observe the anti-inflammatory effect of vinegar-processed RAR. The inflammatory cytokines of model rats were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Liquid Chromatography-Quadrupole-Time of Flight mass spectrometer Detector (LC-Q-TOF) was used to analyse the chemical compositions of the RARs before and after vinegar processing., Results: Neither obvious changes in mice nor death phenomena were observed as the amount of vinegar-processed RAR in crude drug was set at 2.1 g/kg. Vinegar-processed RAR could significantly prolong the latency, reduce the writhing reaction time to reduce the severity of ear swelling and foot swelling, and remarkably inhibit the secretion of Interleukin-1β(IL-1β), Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) proinflammatory cytokines. The content of twelve saponins (e.g., Eleutheroside K) in RAR was decreased after vinegar processing, but six other types (e.g., RDA) were increased., Conclusions: These results revealed that vinegar processing could not only improve the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of RAR but also reduce its own toxicity., Trial Registration: Not applicable.

As a kind of traditional fermented soybean food in China, douchi produced in Yangjiang is widely used in Cantonese cuisine and prepared foods and is exported to more than 30 countries. Yangjiang Douchi has a unique flavor and in-depth research on it can enhance its aroma quality. In this study, the key aroma-active compounds were characterized by the combined gas chromatography–olfactometry detection (GC–O) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) with sensory evaluation. In total, 39 aroma compounds were identified, and 18 of them with flavor dilution (FD) > 4 were determined. After quantifying, it was found that there were 12 aroma-active compounds with odor activity value (OAV) > 1. It was further verified that 9 aroma-active compounds contributed greatly to the aroma including acetic acid, 4,5-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-2,5-dihydrofuran-2-one, 3-methylbutyric acid, maltol, guaiacol, phenylacetaldehyde, furanone, 3-methylthiopropanal and 1-methoxy-4-propenylbenzene. Sensory evaluations showed that the flavor profile mainly consisted of sauce-like, sour, nutty, smoky, caramel-like, and fruity notes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: In China, there has been no established national program for cervical cancer prevention, the screening methods and experiences are especially deficient in the rural areas. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the effects of acetic acid/Lugol's iodine (VIA/VILI) used for screening of cervical cancer and pre-cancerous lesions in a rural area of China by analyzing the large-scale population-based screening data from the demonstration site., Methods: Women aged 30-59 years from Xiangyuan County in Shanxi Province were recruited for cervical cancer screening from 2005 to 2007. VIA/VILI was the primary screening method followed by colposcopy if the VIA/VILI was positive. Cervical lesions were diagnosed by directed biopsy under the colposcopy. The VIA/VILI negative women or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 1 (CIN1) were re-screened using the same procedure in the next year., Results: In total, 7145 women received the cervical cancer screening, with a participation rate of 74.75%. Their average age was 42.16 years. A total of 1287 women were consecutively screened for three times from 2005 to 2007. The detection rates of CIN2, CIN3 and cervical cancer were 0.70% (9/1287), 1.01% (13/1287) and 0.23% (3/1287) for the first round screening, and were 0.22% (2/976), 0.11% (1/976) and 0% (0/976) for the second round screening, respectively. Only one CIN2 was found in the third round screening. In the years of 2006-2007, 3490 women were screened consecutively twice. The detection rates of CIN2, CIN3 and cervical cancer were 0.26% (9/3490), 0.52% (18/3490) and 0.15% (5/3490) for the first round screening, and 0.40% (14/2943), 0.40% (14/2943) and 0.03% (1/2943) for the second round screening. Likewise, 2 368 women were screened consecutively twice in the years of 2007-2008. The detection rates of CIN2, CIN3 and cervical cancer were 0.55% (13/2368), 0.25% (6/2368) and 0.12% (3/2368) for the first round screening, and 0.42 (10/2040), 0.04% (1/2040) and 0% for the second round screening. The cumulative detection rates for CIN2, CIN3 and cervical cancer were 0.81% (58/7145), 0.74% (53/7145) and 0.17% (12/7145), respectively. And 53.45% (31/58) of CIN2, 68.81% (37/53) of CIN3 and almost all cervical cancers (11/12) were found during the first round screening, except for an early stage cervical cancer (Ia). Only one CIN2 was detected in the third round screening in the same population. The average age of CIN1, CIN2, CIN3 and cervical cancer were 38.65, 40.61, 44.10 and 46.73 years, respectively., Conclusions: VIA/VILI can be used as an alternative screening method for cervical cancer and high-grade pre-cancerous lesions among the women aged 30-59 years in China's rural areas because of its low cost, easy training for the local health providers, and less depending on facilities. One round screening by VIA/VILI can detect more than a half of CIN2, two-thirds of CIN3 and almost all the cervical cancer in the population, and the detection rates of CIN2/3 can be increased by two consecutive rounds of screening.

Simple Summary: A number of well-preserved fossils of Hadrotreta were found in the Tsinghsutung Formation of Cambrian Series 2, Stage 4 in Jianhe, Guizhou, south China by etching rocks with 2–3% acetic acid. This is the first report of Hadrotreta in south China. According to the global palaeogeographical distribution of Hadrotreta shows an expanding trend from the Cambrian Age 4 to the Miaolingian Epoch, and this genus was mainly found at low latitudes. In the Cambrian Epoch 2, Age 4, Hadrotreta only appeared in south China and the Laurentia palaeocontinent, and was mostly associated with deep-water continental shelf environments. Later, Hadrotreta expanded its distribution to become virtually cosmopolitan during the Miaolingian Epoch and is mostly preserved in shallow-water platform environments. Hadrotreta is a worldwide acrotretoid brachiopod reported from the Cambrian Series 2 to Miaolingian. Here, a number of well-preserved fossils of Hadrotreta, identified as Hadrotreta cf. H. timchristiorum, were found in the Protoryctocephalus arcticus Zone of the Tsinghsutung Formation of Cambrian Series 2, Stage 4 in Jianhe, Guizhou, south China. This is the first report of Hadrotreta in China, which enriches its global palaeogeographical distribution. Hadrotreta is very similar to acrotretoids such as Kostjubella, Vandalotreta, Linnarssonia, and Eohadrotreta. It differs from them with its well-developed ventral boss-like apical process, apical pits, and dorsal median sulcus. In view of the palaeogeography of Hadrotreta, this genus was mainly distributed in low-latitude regions. Hadrotreta was only found in south China and Laurentia during the Cambrian Age 4, then expanded its distribution to other regions such as Siberia, Baltica, the Kazakh Terranes, the Far East, and Gondwana Pange during the Miaolingian Epoch. Hadrotreta seems to have shifted from deeper water to shallow-water environments during the period from the Cambrian Series 2 to the Miaolingian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clumped isotope thermometry is an effective tool which allows to understand the post-depositional alteration, including recrystallization and solid-state reordering, of carbonate rocks. However, as both processes are controlled by elevated temperatures, it is frequently a challenge to distinguish between the relative importance of these two processes in deeply buried carbonate successions (depth > 5000 m or formation temperature > 150°C). In this paper, we have established a clumped isotopic framework of paired dolomite and calcite in order to decipher the relative influence of solid-state reordering versus recrystallization and consequently offer an improved understanding of the mechanisms involved. The material studied was derived from two deeply buried successions (Jurassic-Ediacaran) drilled in the central Sichuan Basin of South China. The calcite and dolomite minerals from these cores were separated using buffered acetic acid, and based on a two-component mixing model, the carbon, oxygen and clumped isotopic (Δ 47) compositions of the two endmembers were determined. Based on an evaluation of solid-state reordering models, we conclude that micritic carbonates (dolomite and calcite) from the Jurassic to the Cambrian have been altered during burial by the geothermal gradient as determined by vitrinite reflectance. The Ediacaran micritic dolomite records a hydrothermal event in the transition between the Ediacaran and Cambrian. In contrast, the clumped isotopic temperature of Ediacaran saddle dolomites reflects subsequent hydrothermal activity during the Silurian and Devonian and shows compositional variations controlled by cooling rates. This study highlights the utility of the theoretical framework based on paired dolomite and calcite records to untangle overprinted signals of clumped isotopes in ancient carbonate rocks and gives insight to better understand the complexity of alteration processes in deeply burial carbonate successions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Poplars are considered suitable dedicated energy crops, with abundant cellulose and hemicellulose, and huge surplus biomass potential in China. Xylan, the major hemicellulosic component, contributes to the structural stability of wood and represents a tremendous quantity of biobased chemicals for fuel production. Monomeric xylose conversion to value-added chemicals such as furfural, xylitol, and xylonic acid could greatly improve the economics of pulp-paper industry and biorefinery. Acetic acid (HAc) is used as a friendly and recyclable selective catalyst amenable to xylan degradation and xylooligosaccharides production from lignocellulosic materials. However, HAc catalyst usually works much feebly at inert woods than agricultural straws. In this study, effects of different iron species in HAc media on poplar xylan degradation were systematically compared, and a preferable Fe3+-assisted HAc hydrolysis process was proposed for comparable xylose-hydrolysate recovery (XHR) and enzymatic saccharification of cellulose. Results: In presence of 6.5% HAc with 0.17–0.25 wt% Fe3+, xylose yield ranged between 72.5 and 73.9%. Additionally, pretreatment was effective in poplar delignification, with a lignin yield falling between 38.6 and 42.5%. Under similar conditions, saccharification efficiency varied between 60.3 and 65.9%. Starting with 100 g poplar biomass, a total amount of 12.7–12.8 g of xylose and 18.8–22.8 g of glucose were harvested from liquid streams during the whole process of Fe3+-HAc hydrolysis coupled with enzymatic saccharification. Furthermore, the enhancement mechanism of Fe3+ coupled with HAc was investigated after proof-of-concept experiments. Beechwood xylan and xylose were treated under the same condition as poplar sawdust fractionation, giving understanding of the effect of catalysts on the hydrolysis pathway from wood xylan to xylose and furfural by Fe3+-HAc. Conclusions: The Fe3+-assisted HAc hydrolysis process was demonstrated as an effective approach to the wood xylose and other monosaccharides production. Synergistic effect of Lewis acid site and aqueous acetic acid provided a promising strategy for catalytic valorization of poplar biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of caramel has existed since millenary times, originating in China with rudimentary blown figures. However, up to the present time, the complex artistic figures that are presented in the competitive world gastronomic scenarios or as part of gastronomic sophistication are served in the most exclusive A&B establishments. For this study, a thorough qualitative bibliographic review has been carried out to support and substantiate the culinary chemical principles of components, reactions and process of elaboration of caramel. Concluding in the first instance that sugars are susceptible to reactions such as caramelization due to high temperatures, which leads to the melting point of the carbohydrate to melting and generates compounds related to the characteristics of smell, taste but especially, the dark color of this food; chemical products such as furfural, melanoidin's, furans, furanone, lactones, pyrones, aldehydes, ketones and more that give the identifying characteristic to the final sweet product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assesses the level of contamination of Hg in farmland soils along the irrigating channel downstream from Guizhou Organic Chemical Factory (GOCF), where metallic mercury is used as a catalyst to produce acetic acid. The total input of mercury into the environment, as announced by GOCF, is 140 t in the past 30 years (1971–2000). Sampling sites were chosen based on the distance from the source of pollution—the chemical factory. A total of 39 samples were collected from the study area and analyzed for total mercury concentrations and methyl mercury concentrations. The characteristics of vertical and horizontal distributions of total mercury and methyl mercury in the study area (farmland) are described in this paper. Much attention was paid to the transformation of inorganic Hg into organic mercury species in soils as well. The results showed that the farmland has been heavily contaminated by Hg. Land cultivation activity, land utilization style and distance from the pollution source could be the dominant factors controlling the distribution of THg and MeHg. It is observed that active transformation of inorganic Hg into organic mercury species (MeHg) usually takes place in paddy soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patrinia scabra Bunge is a well-known herbal medicine for its favorable treatment on inflammatory diseases owing to its effective ingredients, in which iridoid glycoside plays an extremely significant role. This article aimed to improve the content of total iridoid glycosides in crude extract through a series optimization of extraction procedure. Moreover, considering that both pain and inflammation are two correlated responses triggered in response to injury, irritants or pathogen, the article investigated the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of P. scabra to screen out the active fraction. Method: P. scabra was extracted by ultrasonic-microwave synergistic extraction (UMSE) to obtain total iridoid glycosides (PSI), during which a series of conditions were investigated based on single-factor experiments. The extraction process was further optimized by a reliable statistical method of response surface methodology (RSM). The elution fractions of P. scabra extract were prepared by macroporous resin column chromatography. Through the various animal experiment including acetic acid-induced writhing test, formalin induced licking and flinching, carrageenan-induced mice paw oedema test and xylene-induced ear edema in mice, the active fractions with favorable analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect were reasonably screen out. Results: The content of PSI could reach up to 81.42 ± 0.31 mg/g under the optimum conditions as follows: ethanol concentration of 52%, material-to-liquid ratio of 1:18 g/mL, microwave power at 610 W and extraction time of 45 min. After gradient elution by the macroporous resin, the content of PSI increased significantly. Compared with other concentrations of elution liquid, the content of PSI in 30 and 50% ethanol eluate was increased to reach 497.65 and 506.90 mg/g, respectively. Owing to the pharmacology experiment, it was reasonably revealed that 30 and 50% ethanol elution fractions of P. scabra could relieve pain centrally and peripherally, exhibiting good analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. Conclusion: Patrinia scabra possessed rich iridoids and exhibited significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering is the property of Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Bisphenol A (BPA) used as an additive in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products is an endocrine disrupter that causes negative effects on human health. The aim of the present study is to investigate the BPA contents in 26 different plastics bought from China, their major components were identified by Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectrometry, and the migration of BPA from these materials into four representative solvents and four foods were determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results showed that nine kinds of plastics were identified as PVC, and eight plastic samples were PVC‐based films. Recoveries of BPA in films and foods were 88.87%–97.29%, and their precisions expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD) were 1.17%–4.72%. The limit of detection (LOD) was 0.01–0.02 μg ml−1. In the tests of migration into water, 20% ethanol, 4% acetic acid, and n‐hexane, migrations from given films, were in all cases greatest into n‐hexane (7.44–20 mg kg−1 after 24 h). Migrations from the films with nonzero BPA contents to four foods ranged from 0.079 to 0.403 mg kg−1, which were higher than the updated European Union specific migration limit for BPA (0.05 mg kg−1). Therefore, PVC should be taken into account in estimating BPA intake or exposure to this substance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium (Cd) contamination is the most extensive pollution in China farmland. A greenhouse pot trial was conducted to investigate the effects of cornstalk biochar on Cd accumulation by Phytolacca americana L. (pokeweed) in Cd-contaminated soil. The Cd concentration increased in leaves, shoots, and roots of plants amended with 5% biochar by 79%, 113%, and 32%, respectively, compared with the pokeweed without biochar. The Cd availability, soil Cd speciation, soil fertility, root biomass, and Cd chemical forms in root were investigated to explore the mechanism by which Cd uptake increased in presence of biochar. The extractability of Cd by DTPA decreased in presence of biochar by 30% compared with that of soil without biochar. The increases occurred with dose of biochar increased in available phosphorus, labile organic carbon, and C/N atom ratio. Although, the dry weight of the aboveground part of the pokeweed decreased by 38.5%, however, the weight of roots increased by 20.8%. Root biomass and microbial activity reached maximum in the treatment that recieved 5% biochar. Cd forms extracted by NaCl and acetic acid (HAc) were predominant in root. When 5% biochar applied to soil, HAc-extracted Cd took up maximum of the increase in root. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Screening is the main preventive method for cervical cancer in developing countries, but each type of screening has advantages and disadvantages. To investigate the most suitable method for low-income areas in China, we conducted a health economic analysis comparing three methods: visual inspection with acetic acid and Lugol's iodine (VIA/VILI), ThinPrep cytology test (TCT), and human papillomavirus (HPV) test.Methods: We recruited 3086 women aged 35-65 years using cluster random sampling. Each participant was randomly assigned to one of three cervical cancer screening groups: VIA/VILI, TCT, or HPV test. In order to calculate the number of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) averted by each screening method, we used Markov models to estimate the natural development of cervical cancer over a 15-year period to estimate the age of onset and duration of each disease stage. The cost-effectiveness ratios (CERs), net present values (NPVs), benefit-cost ratios (BCRs), and cost-utility ratios (CURs) were used as outcomes in the health economic analysis.Results: The positive detection rate in the VIA/VILI group was 1.39%, which was 4.6 and 2.0 times higher than the rates in the TCT and HPV test groups, respectively. The positive predictive value of VIA/VILI (10.53%) was highest while the rate of referral for colposcopy was lowest for those in the HPV + TCT group (0.60%). VIA/VILI performed the best in terms of health economic evaluation results, as the cost of per positive case detected was 8467.9 RMB, which was 24503.0 RMB lower than that for TCT and 5755.9 RMB lower than that for the HPV test. In addition, the NPV and BCR values were 258011.5 RMB and 3.18 (the highest), and the CUR was 2341.8 RMB (the lowest). The TCT performed the worst, since its NPV was <0 and the BCR was <1, indicative of being poorly cost-beneficial.Conclusions: With the best economic evaluation results and requiring minimum medical resources, VIA/VILI is recommended for cervical cancer screening in poverty-stricken areas in China with high incidence of cervical cancer and lack of medical resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the chemical characteristics of organic acids and to identify their source, cloud water and rainwater samples were collected at Mount Lu, a mountain site located in the acid rain-affected area of south China, from August to September of 2011 and March to May of 2012. The volume-weighted mean (VWM) concentration of organic acids in cloud water was 38.42 μeq/L, ranging from 7.45 to 111.46 μeq/L, contributing to 2.50 % of acidity. In rainwater samples, organic acid concentrations varied from 12.39 to 68.97 μeq/L (VWM of 33.39 μeq/L). Organic acids contributed significant acidity to rainwater, with a value of 17.66 %. Formic acid, acetic acid, and oxalic acid were the most common organic acids in both cloud water and rainwater. Organic acids had an obviously higher concentration in summer than in spring in cloud water, whereas there was much less discrimination in rainwater between the two seasons. The contribution of organic acids to acidity was lower during summer than during spring in both cloud water (2.20 % in summer vs 2.83 % in spring) and rainwater (12.24 % in summer vs 19.89 % in spring). The formic-to-acetic acid ratio ( F/ A) showed that organic acids were dominated by primary emissions in 71.31 % of the cloud water samples and whole rainwater samples. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis determined four factors as the sources of organic acids in cloud water, including biogenic emissions (61.8 %), anthropogenic emissions (15.28 %), marine emissions (15.07 %) and soil emissions (7.85 %). The findings from this study imply an indispensable role of organic acids in wet deposition, but organic acids may have a limited capacity to increase ecological risks in local environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel, simple, and rapid method is presented for the analysis of aflatoxin B1, aflatoxin B2, and ochratoxin A in rice samples by dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction combined with LC and fluorescence detection. After extraction of the rice samples with a mixture of acetonitrile/water/acetic acid, mycotoxins were rapidly partitioned into a small volume of organic solvent (chloroform) by dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction. The three mycotoxins were simultaneously determined by LC with fluorescence detection after precolumn derivatization for aflatoxin B1 and B2. Parameters affecting both extraction and dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction procedures, including the extraction solvent, the type and volume of extractant, the volume of dispersive solvent, the addition of salt, the pH and the extraction time, were optimized. The optimized protocol provided an enrichment factor of approximately 1.25 and with detection of limits (0.06-0.5 μg/kg) below the maximum levels imposed by current regulations for aflatoxins and ochratoxin A. The mean recovery of three mycotoxins ranged from 82.9-112%, with a RSD less than 7.9% in all cases. The method was successfully applied to measure mycotoxins in commercial rice samples collected from local supermarkets in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delicately phosphatized specimens of the eodiscoid Hupeidiscus orientalis were documented from the lower Cambrian Shuijingtuo Formation through acetic acid maceration of limestone samples. The material enables us to better understand the meraspid to holaspid ontogenetic development of H. orientalis, and to evaluate its relations with other eodiscoid taxa occurring in South China. The development of its pygidium and thoracic segments is very similar to that of "Shizhudiscus" longquanensis, suggesting that Shizhudiscus is a junior synonym of Hupeidiscus. However, the synonymization of Hupeidiscus with Tsunyidiscus remains open as little is known about the ontogeny of the latter genus. The spines of H. orientalis are of particular importance. Like the enigmatic sclerite taxon Mongolitubulus, its spines are ornamented with a distinctive scaly sculpture, shedding new light on the origin and affinities of Mongolitubulus-like sclerites. The squamose ornament was gradually transformed from granules on the exoskeletal surface at the base of the spines. Other strands of evidence, e.g., the outline, exuviating growth, and the spatio-temporal distribution, also suggest that some isolated sclerites previously assigned to Mongolitubulus are possibly related to the spines of eodiscoid trilobites. This finding implies that such morphologically similar spines may be essentially of multiple pan-arthropod origins (bradoriids, eodiscoids, etc.), and they may be of morphologic analogues rather than homologues, suggesting that Mongolitubulus shall be cautiously used as a generic name unless the circumstance of its type specimens from Mongolia gets clarified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pot experiments were conducted in the laboratory with lime applications to decrease trace elements in Chinese cabbage produced on soils contaminated by trace elements in the intensive periurban area in Chenggong County, Yunnan Province, China. Soil was an acidic loam developed from lacustrine-alluvial deposits. Results showed the following: (1) soil pH increased from 5.3 to 6.5, and acetic-acid-extractable trace-element contents and ratio of acetic-acid-extractable trace-element contents in treatments relative to those in the control (RRCT) decreased with increased rate of lime application. (2) Chinese cabbage more easily absorbed acetic-acid-extractable trace elements. Enrichment coefficients related to trace-element availability (AEC) of lead (Pb; mean: 3.3) and zinc (Zn; mean: 5.8) were stable, and the AEC of cadmium (Cd) was 1.8-2.0 with increased lime application rate. (3) Trace-element contents in Chinese cabbage decreased, and biomass of Chinese cabbage increased, with lime application rate. Trace-element contents in soil solution and acetic-acid-extractable trace-element contents can predict trace-element contents in Chinese cabbage, especially for soil solution. Lime quality and trace-element accumulation in Chinese cabbage should be taken into account when amendment is added to in situ soil contaminated with trace elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peroxyacetic acid (PAA) is one of the most important atmospheric organic peroxides, which have received increasing attention for their potential contribution to the oxidation capacity of the troposphere and the formation of secondary aerosols. We report here, for the first time, a series of data for atmospheric PAA concentrations at urban and rural sites, from five field campaigns carried out in China in summer 2006, 2007 and 2008. For these five measurements, daytime mean (08:00-20:00 LT) PAA concentrations on sunlit days were 21.4-148.0 pptv with a maximum level of ~1 ppbv. The various meteorological and chemical parameters influencing PAA concentrations were examined using Principal Factor Analysis. This statistical analysis shows that the local photochemical production was the major source of PAA, and its concentration increased with increasing temperature, solar radiation and ozone but decreased with increasing NOx (NO and NO2), CO, SO2, and relative humidity. Based on the dataset, several issues are highlighted in this study: (i) Because PAA is a product from the photochemical oxidation of some specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that lead to acetyl peroxy radicals, the importance of various VOCs with respect to the PAA formation is therefore ranked using the incremental reactivity method. (ii) The contribution of PAN thermal degradation to PAA formation under conditions of different NOx concentrations is estimated based on the chemical kinetics analysis. The result shows that PAN seems to play an important role in the formation of PAA when the NO/NO2 concentration ratio was less than 0.2 and PAA would correspondingly have feedback on the PANNOx cycle. (iii) PAA and other peroxides, such as methyl hydroperoxide (MHP) and H2O2, usually exhibited a similar asymmetric shape typically shifted to the afternoon. However, under some conditions, H2O2 diurnal cycle was out of phase with MHP and PAA. The combination of linear regression and kinetics analysis indicate that the formation and removal processes of H2O2 may be different from those of MHP and PAA. (iv) Considering that PAA is the reservior of free radicals, its fate is expected to have an effect on the free radical budget in the atmosphere. A box model based on the CBM-IV mechanism has been performed to access its influence on the radical budget. We suggest that the detailed information on PAA in the atmosphere is of importance to better understand the free radical chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sedum alfredii, a cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) hyperaccumulator at a mine located in Qu Zhou City, Zhejiang Province, China, can accumulate Cd and Zn exceeding 1,000 and 10,000 mg kg−1, respectively in its shoot (dry weight) when growing under metal-contaminated habitats. Several strains of bacteria were isolated from the rhizosphere of S. alfredii thriving in different Pb/Zn mines in Hunan Province and Zhejiang Province, China, which can resist high levels of heavy metals. Among the different strains isolated, Burkholderia cepacia showed the highest ability in mobilizing Cd and Zn as well as resisting high concentrations of soluble Zn (500 mg L−1). The soluble Zn concentration in the medium increased from 13 to 72 and 99% ( p < 0.001) after bacterial inoculation in the medium supplemented with insoluble zinc oxide and zinc carbonate, respectively, while pH dropped from 7 to 2.93. The soluble Cd concentration was also increased from 8 to 96% ( p < 0.001), and pH decreased from 7 to 2.65. Short-chain organic acids were also analyzed and the results indicated that oxalic acid, tartaric acid, formic acid and acetic acid had a significant correlation ( p < 0.001) with the concentrations of Cd and Zn being mobilized during the assay. The present results implicated that certain bacteria associated with metal hyperaccumulators could contribute significantly in mobilizing heavy metals, which would enhance the phytoextraction process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formate and acetate concentrations are measured in a 22.56 m-depth ice core recovered in Mt. Muztagata Glacier, northwest Tibetan Plateau. The mean concentrations for formate and acetate in this ice core are 186.6±160.1 and 136.4±133.9 ng/g, respectively. Study shows that there is a positive correlation between formate and nitrate, suggesting both continental origins. However, no significant relationship has been found between formate and acetate, though they both have obvious periodical variations. Because Mr. Muztagata lies in the mid-latitude and is correlative to the nearby human activities, formate and acetate concentrations are higher than those in Greenland and Antarctica. During recent decades, the increase of formate concentration in the Muztagata ice core and formaldehyde production shows a close correlation. We preliminarily presume that the high formate concentration in the Muztagata ice core is concerned with the thriving of house decoration in which excess formaldehyde was used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]