Monitoring MVOC Profiles over Time from Isolates of Aspergillus flavus Using SPME GC-MS

Fungi produce a variety of microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) during primary and secondary metabolism. The fungus, Aspergillus flavus, is a human, animal and plant pathogen which produces aflatoxin, one of the most carcinogenic substances known. In this study, MVOCs were analyzed using solid phase microextraction (SPME) combined with GCMS from two genetically different A. flavus strains, an aflatoxigenic strain, NRRL 3357, and a non-aflatoxigenic strain, NRRL 21882. A PDMS/CAR SPME fiber was used over 30 days to observe variations in MVOCs over time. The relative percentage of individual chemicals in several chemical classes (alcohols, aldehydes, esters, furans, hydrocarbons, ketones, and organic acids) was shown to change considerably during the varied fungal growth stages. This changing chemical profile reduces the likelihood of finding a single chemical that can be used consistently as a biomarker for fungal strain identification. In our study, discriminant analysis techniques were successfully conducted using all identified and quantified MVOCs enabling discrimination of the two A. flavus strains over the entire 30-day period. This study underscores the potential of using SPME GCMS coupled with multivariate analysis for fungi strain identification.

Analyses of anomalous amplitudes of antipodal PKⅡKP waves

Approaching the distance of 180°, seismic focusing greatly amplifies the normally weak PKIIKP phase(underside reflection from the inner core boundary). Anomalously strong amplitudes of the PKIIKP phase reported previously at near antipodal distances(at seismic station TAM in North Africa) have been interpreted to infer anomalous structure(s) of the inner core boundary(including a sharp drop of compressional wave speed in the bottommost outer core or a near-zero shear wave speed in the topmost inner core). However,our observations of 12 earthquakes located antipodal to TAM(including the previously cited four events) suggest, for several reasons,that the anomalous PKIIKP energy might be a seismic phase misidentification. The anomalous phase appeared at distances less than 179.6° but not at larger distances(～179.8°). The phase appears consistently from antipode to distances less than 160° and has horizontal slowness similar to the PKIKP phase(going straight through the inner core). Its travel times vary greatly and show a systematic difference between two groups of events at different distances. A simple point scatter provides a good match to the travel times and the systematic variation of the anomalous phase at most stations, suggesting that it could originate from scattering off strong heterogeneities in the mantle wedge above the subducting Tonga slab. The phase misidentification suggests that the previously proposed inner core boundary structure(s) based on the anomalous phase need to be re-evaluated.

Geometric spatial structure of traditional Tibetan settlements of Degger County, China： A case study of four villages

This study investigates the characteristics of spatial elements and structure in a multi-cultural traditional settlement in Degger County, Sichuan Province, in the Tibetan area of China. This study aims to clarify the geometric spatial representation of traditional settlements. The geometric features of their settlement plans are compared using mathematical analysis after examining the spatial arrangement of four typical settlements. Results indicate that the settlement structure has strong centrality. The spatial structure characteristics and proposed spatial models of traditional settlements in this area are discussed to aim for the results to contribute to new village planning and preserve a traditional settlement heritage.