热加工食品中晚期糖基化终末产物和5-羟甲基糠醛的形成、检测与控制

食品加工过程中的美拉德反应有助于形成一些热诱导毒性产物,包括晚期糖基化终末产物(advanced glycation end products,AGEs)和5-羟甲基糠醛(5-hydroxymethylfurfural,5-HMF)。食源性AGEs在体内的积累和循环与糖尿病并发症的发生有关,同时可能诱发氧化应激、炎症和动脉粥样硬化。5-HMF的代谢物5-磺基氧甲基糠醛(5-sulfooxymethylfurfural,5-SMF)有潜在基因毒性和致癌性。如何控制热加工食品中这些危害物的形成已成为食品行业的关注焦点。本文从美拉德反应和焦糖化反应两条途径探究了AGEs和5-HMF的形成机理,并对近5年二者的检测方法进行了综述,阐述了各类方法的优缺点,以期为建立二者的通用检测方法奠定基础。在此基础上,从削减前体物质的供给、阻断中间体的转化,以及去除已经生成的AGEs和5-HMF这3个方面着手,综述了近年来相应所采用的抑制策略,以期为AGEs和5-HMF在食品中的控制及热加工食品质量与安全管理提供理论依据。

化橘红提取物在早期糖尿病肾病大鼠中多靶点防治作用的研究

目的探究化橘红提取物在糖尿病肾病(diabetic nephropathy,DN)中的多靶点防治作用。方法对大鼠腹腔注射STZ试剂制备DN模型。将90只Wistar实验大鼠分为为正常对照组、模型空白组、贝那普利对照组、化橘红提取物预防组、化橘红提取物低剂量组和化橘红提取物高剂量组。检测各组FBG、HbA1C、U-mA1b、β_(2)-MG、SCr、BUN水平,同时检测SGLT2、AGES、RAGES、TGF-β1的mRNA及蛋白表达水平。结果模型空白组FBG、HbA1C、U-mA1b、β_(2)-MG、BUN水平均较正常对照组升高,SGLT2、AGES、RAGES、TGF-β1的mRNA和蛋白表达水平均较正常对照组升高,中西药物干预后上述指标均较模型空白组降低(P<0.05);其中,中药预防组干预效果最佳。结论化橘红提取物的作用机制可能是通过调节葡萄糖转运蛋白的异常表达、减少糖基化作用而减少TGF-β1表达水平,发挥防治DN、保护肾脏损伤的作用。

乳酸菌发酵对花生衣抗糖化缓解皮肤衰老功能的影响

糖化会导致晚期糖基化终末产物(AGEs)形成并在体内积累,引起皮肤衰老。体外实验表明花生衣具有抗糖化作用,乳酸菌发酵能否提升花生衣的抗糖能力尚不清楚。本研究采用体外AGEs生成模型和丙酮醛损伤皮肤成纤维细胞(HSF)模型,从10株乳酸菌中筛出植物乳植杆菌CCFM1354,该菌具有很好的抑制AGEs生成能力,能缓解HSF细胞的糖化损伤。高糖细胞模型实验发现,CCFM1354发酵花生衣能显著降低HSF细胞中BAX和NFKB1的mRNA的相对表达量;D-半乳糖诱导的衰老小鼠实验结果表明,口服植物乳植杆菌CCFM1354发酵花生衣能显著降低小鼠血清AGEs含量,提高小鼠皮肤弹性,改善小鼠皮肤萎缩状况,且效果优于未发酵花生衣。由此可见,植物乳植杆菌CCFM1354发酵能显著提升花生衣的抗糖化功能,缓解皮肤衰老。

空气煎炸温度和时间对香菇品质和晚期糖基化终末产物形成的影响

研究空气煎炸温度和时间对香菇(Lentinulaedodes)品质和晚期糖基化终末产物(advanced glycation end products, AGEs)形成的影响。以香菇为原料,通过不同温度(160、180℃)和时间(0、5、10、15、20min)的空气煎炸,测定香菇含水量、色泽、硬度,进行感官评定,并分析香菇中荧光性AGEs和非荧光性AEGs——羧甲基赖氨酸(Nε-(carboxymethyl)-lysine, CML)和羧乙基赖氨酸(Nε-(carboxyethyl)-lysine, CEL)3种美拉德反应产物的含量。结果表明:空气煎炸10、15、20 min时,180℃处理香菇的含水量显著低于160℃;其中180℃,空气煎炸20 min时,香菇含水量最低。与新鲜香菇相比,180℃空气煎炸20 min时亮度值L*最低,红度值a*、黄度值b*、色泽总差值ΔE和硬度最高。160、180℃时,与空气煎炸5 min相比,20 min时形态得分、色泽得分、香味得分、综合得分最低;180℃空气煎炸10 min的酥脆度最高。与新鲜香菇相比,180、160℃空气煎炸10 min时荧光性AGEs含量差异不显著,180℃时空气煎炸20 min时,荧光性AGEs含量最高;160℃空气煎炸20 min的CML含量最高;180℃空气煎炸20 min的CEL含量最高;160、180℃空气煎炸10 min时CML和CEL含量差异不显著。综上,180℃、10min为空气煎炸香菇的良好条件,此时香菇的色泽风味及口感均良好且荧光性AGEs、CEL及CML含量较低。

Effects of deformation temperatures on microstructures,aging behaviors and mechanical properties of Mg-Gd-Er-Zr alloys fabricated by hard-plate rolling

In this investigation,a high-strength Mg-12Gd-1.0Er-0.5Zr(wt.%)alloy sheet was produced by hot extrusion(HE)and subsequent hard-plate rolling(HPR)at different temperatures.The results indicate that the microstructures of these final-rolled sheets are inhomogeneous,mainly including coarse deformed grains and dynamic recrystallized(DRXed)grains,and the volume fraction of these coarse deformed grains increases as the rolling temperature increases.Thus,more DRXed grains can be found in R-385℃sheet,resulting in a smaller average grain size and weaker basal texture,while the biggest grains and the highest strong basal texture are present in R-450℃sheet.Amounts of dynamic precipitation ofβphases which are mainly determined by the rolling temperature are present in these sheets,and its precipitation can consume the content of Gd solutes in the matrix.As a result,the lowest number density ofβphase in R-450℃sheet is beneficial to modify the age hardening response.Thus,the R-450℃sheet displays the best age hardening response because of a severe traditional precipitation ofβ’(more)andβH/βM(less)precipitates,resulting in a sharp improvement in strength,i.e.ultimate tensile strength(UTS)of∼518±17 MPa and yield strength(YS)of∼438±18 MPa.However,the elongation(EL)of this sheet reduces greatly,and its value is∼2.7±0.3%.By contrasting,the EL of the peak-aging R-385℃sheet keeps better,changing from∼4.9±1.2%to∼4.8±1.4%due to a novel dislocation-induced chain-like precipitate which is helpful to keep good balance between strength and ductility.

Aboveground carbon sequestration of Cunninghamia lanceolata forests:Magnitude and drivers

Understanding the spatial variation,temporal changes,and their underlying driving forces of carbon sequestration in various forests is of great importance for understanding the carbon cycle and carbon management options.How carbon density and sequestration in various Cunninghamia lanceolata forests,extensively cultivated for timber production in subtropical China,vary with biodiversity,forest structure,environment,and cultural factors remain poorly explored,presenting a critical knowledge gap for realizing carbon sequestration supply potential through management.Based on a large-scale database of 449 permanent forest inventory plots,we quantified the spatial-temporal heterogeneity of aboveground carbon densities and carbon accumulation rates in Cunninghamia lanceolate forests in Hunan Province,China,and attributed the contributions of stand structure,environmental,and management factors to the heterogeneity using quantile age-sequence analysis,partial least squares path modeling(PLS-PM),and hot-spot analysis.The results showed lower values of carbon density and sequestration on average,in comparison with other forests in the same climate zone(i.e.,subtropics),with pronounced spatial and temporal variability.Specifically,quantile regression analysis using carbon accumulation rates along an age sequence showed large differences in carbon sequestration rates among underperformed and outperformed forests(0.50 and 1.80 Mg·ha^(-1)·yr^(-1)).PLS-PM demonstrated that maximum DBH and stand density were the main crucial drivers of aboveground carbon density from young to mature forests.Furthermore,species diversity and geotopographic factors were the significant factors causing the large discrepancy in aboveground carbon density change between low-and high-carbon-bearing forests.Hotspot analysis revealed the importance of culture attributes in shaping the geospatial patterns of carbon sequestration.Our work highlighted that retaining largesized DBH trees and increasing shade-tolerant tree species were important to enhance carbon sequestration in C.lanceolate forests.

Association of preschool children behavior and emotional problems with the parenting behavior of both parents

BACKGROUND Parental behaviors are key in shaping children’s psychological and behavioral development,crucial for early identification and prevention of mental health issues,reducing psychological trauma in childhood.AIM To investigate the relationship between parenting behaviors and behavioral and emotional issues in preschool children.METHODS From October 2017 to May 2018,7 kindergartens in Ma’anshan City were selected to conduct a parent self-filled questionnaire-Health Development Survey of Preschool Children.Children’s Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire(Parent Version)was applied to measures the children’s behavioral and emotional performance.Parenting behavior was evaluated using the Parental Behavior Inventory.Binomial logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between the detection rate of preschool children’s behavior and emotional problems and their parenting behaviors.RESULTS High level of parental support/participation was negatively correlated with conduct problems,abnormal hyperactivity,abnormal total difficulty scores and abnormal prosocial behavior problems.High level of maternal support/participation was negatively correlated with abnormal emotional symptoms and abnormal peer interaction in children.High level of parental hostility/coercion was positively correlated with abnormal emotional symptoms,abnormal conduct problems,abnormal hyperactivity,abnormal peer interaction,and abnormal total difficulty scores in children(all P<0.05).Moreover,paternal parenting behaviors had similarly effects on behavior and emotional problems of preschool children compared with maternal parenting behaviors(all P>0.05),after calculating ratio of odds ratio values.CONCLUSION Our study found that parenting behaviors are associated with behavioral and emotional issues in preschool children.Overall,the more supportive or involved the parents are,the fewer behavioral and emotional problems the children experience;conversely,the more hostile or controlling the parents are,the more behavioral and emotional problems the children face.Moreover,the impact of fathers’parenting behaviors on preschool children’s behavior and emotions is no less significant than that of mothers’parenting behaviors.

果蔬发酵黑化褐变机制及晚期糖基化产物调控研究进展

果蔬的发酵黑化是其自身物质在高温、高湿的环境中产生的物理化学变化。黑化后的果蔬其营养价值丰富,但同时黑化过程中可能产生的晚期糖基化产物也对人体存在潜在危害。该文介绍了果蔬黑化褐变作用机制,其主要发生美拉德反应,酶促褐变和微生物作用等;简述了晚期糖基化产物的产生与危害,可能会导致糖尿病人产生一系列糖尿病并发症,诱导骨细胞凋亡,促进人体衰老等;总结了抑制晚期糖基化产物积累的方法,比如通过调控食品的工艺条件或者添加天然活性产物来抑制晚期糖基化产物的产生。未来可通过优化黑化反应条件或抑制美拉德反应进程来抑制晚期糖基化产物等有害物质的生成,得到更健康安全的黑化产品,从而预防或减轻人体疾病。

Age-specific differences in the association between prediabetes and cardiovascular diseases in China:A national cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND Cardiovascular disease(CVD)is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide,the global burden of which is rising.It is still unclear the extent to which prediabetes contributes to the risk of CVD in various age brackets among adults.To develop a focused screening plan and treatment for Chinese adults with prediabetes,it is crucial to identify variations in the connection between prediabetes and the risk of CVD based on age.AIM To examine the clinical features of prediabetes and identify risk factors for CVD in different age groups in China.METHODS The cross-sectional study involved a total of 46239 participants from June 2007 through May 2008.A thorough evaluation was conducted.Individuals with prediabetes were categorized into two groups based on age.Chinese atherosclerotic CVD risk prediction model was employed to evaluate the risk of developing CVD over 10 years.Random forest was established in both age groups.SHapley Additive exPlanation method prioritized the importance of features from the perspective of assessment contribution.RESULTS In total,6948 people were diagnosed with prediabetes in this study.In prediabetes,prevalences of CVD were 5(0.29%)in the younger group and 148(2.85%)in the older group.Overall,11.11%of the younger group and 29.59% of the older group were intermediate/high-risk of CVD for prediabetes without CVD based on the Prediction for ASCVD Risk in China equation in ten years.In the younger age group,the 10-year risk of CVD was found to be more closely linked to family history of CVD rather than lifestyle,whereas in the older age group,resident status was more closely linked.CONCLUSION The susceptibility to CVD is age-specific in newly diagnosed prediabetes.It is necessary to develop targeted approaches for the prevention and management of CVD in adults across various age brackets.

基于热糖化法体外生化抗糖化评价体系的优化与应用

面对日益增长的抗糖化原料筛选需求,现有的体外生化抗糖化评价体系、抗糖化细胞模型和人体功效评价方法因周期长或成本高等问题,不适用于原料的大规模初筛。实验周期短、成本低、操作简便、重复性好用于抗糖化原料初步筛选的评价方法亟待确立。基于热糖化法对体外生化抗糖化评价体系进行了优化,通过检测阿魏酸、原花青素、芦丁、L-抗坏血酸等8种原料进行了抑制荧光性AGEs(Advanced glycation end products)、降解荧光性AGEs原料筛选适用性探究。并将筛选结果与已发表研究、检测AGEs降解能力的AGEs-胶原蛋白交联破坏能力实验结果进行对比,对体系筛选能力、优势和局限性进行了讨论分析。确立了优化后的反应体系为:20 mg/mL牛血清白蛋白、1 mol/L葡萄糖、0.1 mol/L PBS缓冲液组成的反应体系下,50℃、孵育48 h后,在λ_(ex)/λ_(em)=370/452 nm波长下进行荧光强度的检测。在抑制/降解荧光性AGEs的测试中,测试2%的阿魏酸、原花青素、芦丁溶液抑制率分别达到56%,86%,95%,具有较好的抗糖化效果,阿魏酸、芦丁表现出潜在降解AGEs的趋势。优化后的体系,虽然在降解荧光性AGEs的应用上,相较于AGEs-胶原蛋白交联破坏能力测试的方法,在对照体系设置及实验结果上存在一定的局限性。但在筛选抑制荧光性AGEs的原料方面,结果稳定性、真实性佳,极大缩短了试验周期,为抗糖化功效添加剂的筛选和相应产品的开发提供了快速、稳定、节约经济成本的技术平台。

Non-linear relationship between age and subfoveal choroidal thickness in Chinese patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy

BACKGROUND No study has investigated the change regularity between age and subfoveal choroidal thickness(SFCT)in proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR).AIM To investigate the relationship between the SFCT and age in Chinese patients with PDR.METHODS This was a cross-sectional retrospective study.The participants were hospitalized individuals with type 2 diabetes who underwent vitrectomy for PDR.Contralateral eyes that met the criteria were included in the study.All necessary laboratory tests were performed at the time of admission.Central macular thickness(CMT)and SFCT were two quantitative assessments made using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography.CMT was measured automatically and SFCT was measured manually with digital calipers provided by the Heidelberg Eye Explorer software.RESULTS The final analysis included a total of 234 individuals with PDR.The average age was 55.60 years old±10.03 years old,and 57.69%of the population was male.Univariate analysis revealed a significant negative connection between age and SFCT in patients with PDR[β=-2.44,95%confidence interval(95%CI):-3.46 to-1.42;P<0.0001].In the fully adjusted model,the correlation between SFCT and age remained steady(β=-1.68,95%CI:-2.97 to-0.39;P=0.0117).Spline smoothing showed that the relationship between SFCT and age in patients with PDR was non-linear,with an inflection point at 54 years of age.CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that age is a key determinant of choroidal thickness.The non-linear link between SFCT and age in PDR patients should be taken into account.

Bowel preparation protocol for hospitalized patients ages 50 years or older:A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND The incidence and mortality rate of colorectal cancer progressively increase with age and become particularly prominent after the age of 50 years.Therefore,the population that is≥50 years in age requires long-term and regular colonoscopies.Uncomfortable bowel preparation is the main reason preventing patients from undergoing regular colonoscopies.The standard bowel preparation regimen of 4-L polyethylene glycol(PEG)is effective but poorly tolerated.AIM To investigate an effective and comfortable bowel preparation regimen for hospitalized patients≥50 years in age.METHODS Patients were randomly assigned to group 1(2-L PEG+30-mL lactulose+a lowresidue diet)or group 2(4-L PEG).Adequate bowel preparation was defined as a Boston bowel preparation scale(BBPS)score of≥6,with a score of≥2 for each segment.Non-inferiority was prespecified with a margin of 10%.Additionally,the degree of comfort was assessed based on the comfort questionnaire.RESULTS The proportion of patients with a BBPS score of≥6 in group 1 was not significantly different from that in group 2,as demonstrated by intention-to-treat(91.2%vs 91.0%,P=0.953)and per-protocol(91.8%vs 91.0%,P=0.802)analyses.Furthermore,in patients≥75 years in age,the proportion of BBPS scores of≥6 in group 1 was not significantly different from that in group 2(90.9%vs 97.0%,P=0.716).Group 1 had higher comfort scores(8.85±1.162 vs 7.59±1.735,P<0.001),longer sleep duration(6.86±1.204 h vs 5.80±1.730 h,P<0.001),and fewer awakenings(1.42±1.183 vs 2.04±1.835,P=0.026)than group 2.CONCLUSION For hospitalized patients≥50 years in age,the bowel preparation regimen comprising 2-L PEG+30-mL lactulose+a low-residue diet produced a cleanse that was as effective as the 4-L PEG regimen and even provided better comfort.

Robust Timing Constraints for Granitic Magmatism and Hydrothermal Mineralization in the Tieshanlong W-Sn Ore Field,Eastern Nanling Range,South China

The Tieshanlong ore field is an important part of the Nanling Range,which is famous worldwide for its W-Sn mineralization.Notably,the mineralization age of the Tieshanlong ore field is not well constrained,and our field investigation reveals that granitic emplacement occurred at different stages.However,previous studies have not distinguished these multiple stages of magmatism.The Tieshanlong granite complex is closely related to the Huangsha quartz vein-type W-Sn deposit and Tongling skarn-type Cu-W-Sn deposit in this field.Through field investigations and isotopic age analyses,this work studies the relationship between multistage magmatic activity and mineralization in the Tieshanlong ore field.LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb isotope analyses revealed that the first-and second-staged granites formed at 154.2±0.6 Ma(MSDW=1.4)and 151.2±0.4 Ma(MSDW=1.5),with zirconε_(Hf)(t)values ranging from-13.1 to-10.5 and from-14.7 to-11.1,respectively.These data suggest that the Tieshanlong granite complex was derived from the partial melting of ancient crustal material.LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating of wolframite and cassiterite reveals that W-Sn mineralization occurred at 160-150 Ma,which agrees well with the U-Pb dating results of the second-staged granite within analytical errors.The magmatic activity in this ore field can be divided into three stages:175-154 Ma,154-150 Ma and 150-145 Ma.The quartz vein-and skarn-type W-Sn mineralization is closely related to second-staged fine-grained twomica granite,and formed earlier than skarn-type Cu-mineralization.This study establishes a metallogenic model for the Tieshanlong ore field,and this model has important practical significance for identifying concealed W-Sn(-Cu)deposits around other granitic complexes in the Nanling Range.

The intrinsic developmental age signal defines an age-dependent climbing behavior in cucumber

The tendril is a climbing organ in cucurbits and functions in physical support and to avoid shading by neighboring vegetation.However,how cucurbits produce tendrils to obtain climbing ability is largely unknown.In this study,tendril phenotypes were investigated during different developmental stages.Our results revealed that tendril growth exhibited an age-dependent pattern in cucurbits.Tendril growth was inhibited,and the tendril was formed as a short tendril[nonfunctional tendril(nonF-tendril),approximately 0.1 cm]during the seedling stage.In contrast,enhanced cell proliferation and cell expansion led to rapid elongation of the tendril during the climbing stage,and the tendril formed as a functional tendril(F-tendril,approximately 30 cm)to obtain climbing ability.RT-qPCR detection showed that age-dependent tendril growth correlated negatively with the abundance of the conserved age regulator CsmiR156.Defoliation induced CsmiR156 to inhibit CsSPLs,and F-tendril formation and climbing ability were delayed in defoliated cucumbers,which confirmed the role of CsmiR156 in regulating tendril growth in vivo.Additionally,exogenous gibberellin(GA)treatment showed that GA positively regulated tendril growth,and RT-qPCR detection showed that the GA bio-synthetic genes and metabolic genes were affected by age pathway,suggesting that the age pathway depended on GA bio-synthetic and metabolic pathway to regulate cell expansion to determine tendril growth.In summary,our work reveals that change in tendril type is an important marker of phase transition in cucumber,and tendril growth is regulated by an intrinsic developmental age signal,ensuring that the cucumber obtains climbing ability at a suitable age.

Old Pinus massoniana forests benefit more from recent rapid warming in humid subtropical areas of central-southern China

Trees progress through various growth stages,each marked by specific responses and adaptation strate-gies to environmental conditions.Despite the importance of age-related growth responses on overall forest health and management policies,limited knowledge exists regarding age-related effects on dendroclimatic relationships in key subtropical tree species.In this study,we employed a den-drochronological method to examine the impact of rapid warming on growth dynamics and climatic sensitivity of young(40–60 years)and old(100–180 years)Pinus mas-soniana forests across six sites in central-southern China.The normalized log basal area increment of trees in both age groups increased significantly following rapid warming in 1984.Trees in young forests further showed a distinct growth decline during a prolonged severe drought(2004–2013),whereas those in old forests maintained growth increases.Tree growth was more strongly influenced by temperature than by moisture,particularly in old forests.Spring tem-peratures strongly and positively impacted the growth of old trees but had a weaker effect on young ones.Old forests had a significantly lower resistance to extreme drought but faster recovery compared to young forests.The“divergence problem”was more pronounced in younger forests due to their heightened sensitivity to warming-induced drought and heat stress.With ongoing warming,young forests also may initially experience a growth decline due to their heightened sensitivity to winter drought.Our findings underscore the importance of considering age-dependent changes in forest/tree growth response to warming in subtropical forest man-agement,particularly in the context of achieving“Carbon Peak&Carbon Neutrality”goals in China.

Effect of Epoxy Resin on the Properties of Recycled Asphalt

To promote the recycling of reclaimed asphalt pavement(RAP),epoxy resin was used to prepare the epoxy-recycled asphalt mixtures.The effect of epoxy resin on the properties of aged asphalt binder was investigated based on the tensile test,flexural creep test,and laser scanning confocal microscopy.The curing characteristics and the mechanical performance of recycled asphalt with different epoxy contents were explored.The results show that the low-temperature performance,ductility,and strength of the aged asphalt binder were significantly improved when the epoxy content reached 40%.The curing time of epoxy-recycled asphalt should be at least 4 d to ensure the formation of good internal spatial network structure.

Afforestation with an age-sequence of Mongolian pine plantation promotes soil microbial residue accumulation in the Horqin Sandy Land, China

Land use change affects the balance of organic carbon(C)reserves and the global C cycle.Microbial residues are essential constituents of stable soil organic C(SOC).However,it remains unclear how microbial residue changes over time following afforestation.In this study,16-,23-,52-,and 62-year-old Mongolian pine stands and 16-year-old cropland were studied in the Horqin Sandy Land,China.We analyzed changes in SOC,amino sugar content,and microbial parameters to assess how microbial communities influence soil C transformation and preservation.The results showed that SOC storage increased with stand age in the early stage of afforestation but remained unchanged at about 1.27-1.29 kg/m2 after 52 a.Moreover,there were consistent increases in amino sugars and microbial residues with increasing stand age.As stand age increased from 16 to 62 a,soil pH decreased from 6.84 to 5.71,and the concentration of total amino sugars increased from 178.53 to 509.99 mg/kg.A significant negative correlation between soil pH and the concentration of specific and total amino sugars was observed,indicating that the effects of soil acidification promote amino sugar stabilization during afforestation.In contrast to the Mongolian pine plantation of the same age,the cropland accumulated more SOC and microbial residues because of fertilizer application.Across Mongolian pine plantation with different ages,there was no significant change in calculated contribution of bacterial or fungal residues to SOC,suggesting that fungi were consistently the dominant contributors to SOC with increasing time.Our results indicate that afforestation in the Horqin Sandy Land promotes efficient microbial growth and residue accumulation in SOC stocks and has a consistent positive impact on SOC persistence.

Evaluation of Compatibilizers for Improving Compatibility between Waste Vegetable Oil and Aged Asphalt

Modifying agents 2,2-Bis(4-glycidyloxyphenyl)propane(2BPE)and dibutyl phthalate(DBP)were selected to enhance the compatibility.By using molecular simulation software(Materials Studio,MS),nine systems were constructed,including molecular models of aged asphalt and WVO monomers with 2BPE and/or DBP.The solubility parameters,Flory-Huggins parameters,and interaction energies of these systems were calculated to determine the impact of 2BPE and DBP on the compatibility of WVO and aged asphalt.Results showed that the addition of 2BPE and DBP reduced the difference in the solubility parameters between WVO and aged asphalt,thus improving the compatibility between WVO and aged asphalt.Additionally,using a combination of 2BPE and DBP in both aged asphalt and rejuvenator was found to be more effective than using either 2BPE or DBP alone.Finally,it was determined that evaluating the compatibility of WVO and aged asphalt using Van der Waals potential and non-bonding energy as evaluation indicators was more accurate than using electrostatic potential energy.

Aging Mongolian pine plantations face high risks of drought-induced growth decline:evidence from both individual tree and forest stand measurements

Discerning vulnerability differences among different aged trees to drought-driven growth decline or to mortality is critical to implement age-specific countermeasures for forest management in water-limited areas.An important species for afforestation in dry environments of northern China,Mongolian pine(Pinus sylvestris var.mongolica Litv.)has recently exhibited growth decline and dieback on many sites,particularly pronounced in old-growth plantations.However,changes in response to drought stress by this species with age as well as the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood.In this study,tree-ring data and remotely sensed vegetation data were combined to investigate variations in growth at individual tree and stand scales for young(9-13 years)and aging(35-52 years)plantations of Mongolian pine in a water-limited area of northern China.A recent decline in tree-ring width in the older plantation also had lower values in satellited-derived normalized difference vegetation indices and normalized difference water indices relative to the younger plantations.In addition,all measured growth-related metrics were strongly correlated with the self-calibrating Palmer drought severity index during the growing season in the older plantation.Sensitivity of growth to drought of the older plantation might be attributed to more severe hydraulic limitations,as reflected by their lower sapwood-and leaf-specific hydraulic conductivities.Our study presents a comprehensive view on changes of growth with age by integrating multiple methods and provides an explanation from the perspective of plant hydraulics for growth decline with age.The results indicate that old-growth Mongolian pine plantations in water-limited environments may face increased growth declines under the context of climate warming and drying.

Can serum immunoglobulin G4 levels and age serve as reliable predictors of relapse in autoimmune pancreatitis?

We are writing in response to the paper published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology by Zhou et al.The authors identified higher serum immunoglobulin(Ig)G4 levels and age over 55 years as independent risk factors for disease relapse.Despite notable strengths,it is crucial to address potential biases.Firstly,the cohort study included 189 patients with autoimmune pancreatitis(AIP)type 1(with higher IgG4 seropositivity and higher relapse)and 24 with type 2(with lower IgG4 seropositivity and lower relapse).Consequently,most,if not all,AIP type 2 patients were assigned to the normal group,possibly inflating the association of higher serum IgG4 levels with relapse and potentially exaggerating the association of older age with relapse.Secondly,the authors did not provide sufficient details regarding AIP diagnosis,such as the ratio of definitive vs probable cases and the proportion of biopsies.In cases where histological evidence is unavailable or indeterminate,AIP type 2 may be misdiagnosed as definitive type 1,and type 1 may also be misdiagnosed as probable type 2,particularly in cases with normal or mildly elevated serum IgG4 levels.Lastly,in this retrospective study,approximately one-third of the consecutive patients initially collected were excluded for various reasons.Accordingly,the impact of nonrandom exclusion on relapse outcomes should be carefully considered.In conclusion,the paper by Zhou et al offers plausible,though not entirely compelling,evidence suggesting a predictive role of elevated serum IgG4 levels and advanced age in AIP relapse.The foundation for future investigations lies in ensuring a reliable diagnosis and accurate disease subtyping,heavily dependent on obtaining histological specimens.In this regard,endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy emerges as a pivotal component of the diagnostic process,contributing to mitigating biases in future explorations of the disease.