Synthesis and Structural Analysis of LDH-SO4-CO3 Whisker

High-quality LDH-SO4-CO3 whiskers were synthesized via liquid precipitation method using MgSO4·7 H2 O and Al2(SO4)3·18 H2O as precursors and Na2CO3-NaHCO3 buffer solution as precipitant. The influence of buffer solution concentration on the characteristics of the samples was investigated. The asgrown whiskers were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and BrunauerEmmett-Teller N2 specific surface area measurements. The results show that the buffer solution concentration has significant impact on whiskers with intercalated structure. The LDH-SO4-CO3 whiskers with well-defined geometry, distinct intercalated structure, decent quality, and excellent dispersing capability can be obtained under the following conditions: buffer solution volume ratio of 45%, reaction temperature of 83°C, and reaction time of 182 h. The obtained whiskers are well-crystallized and exhibit homogeneous morphology consisting of fiber bars.

A comparison of decomposition dynamics among green tree leaves,partially decomposed tree leaf litter and their mixture in a warm temperate forest ecosystem

Decomposition dynamics were compared among green tree leaves, partially decomposed tree leaf litter （i.e., decayed tree leaf litter on forest floor） and a mixture of the two in a warm temperate forest ecosystem in central China to test the influence of litter chemical quality on the degree of decomposition. The study was conducted in situ at two contrasting forest sites, an oak forest dominated by Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata Maxim., and a mixed pine and oak forest dominated by Pinus armandii Franch. and Q. aliena var. acuteserrata. We found marked differences in the rate of decomposition among litter types at both forest sites; the litter decom- position constant, k, was about 39 % greater at the oak forest site and more than 70 % greater at the pine-oak forest site, for green leaves than for partially decomposed leaf litter. The decomposition dynamics and temporal changes in litter chemistry of the three litter types also greatly differed between the two forest sites. At both forest sites, the higher rate of decomposition for the green leaves was associated with a and lower carbon to N ratio higher nitrogen （N） content （C/N） and acid-unhydrolyz- able residue to N ratio （AUR/N）. We did not find any non- additive effects when mixing green leaves and partially decomposed leaf litter. Our findings support the con- tention that litter chemical quality is one of the most important determinants of litter decomposition in forest ecosystems at the local or regional scale, but the effect of litter chemical quality on decomposition differs between the contrasting forest types and may vary with the stage of decomposition.

Ab Initio Study of Mechanism of Forming a Si-heterocyclic Spiro-Sn-heterocyclic Ring Compound by Cycloaddition Reaction of Cl2Si=Sn: and Ethylene

X2Si=Sn:(X = H, Me, F, Cl, Br, Ph, Ar…) are new species of chemistry. The cycloaddition reaction of X2Si=Sn: is a new study field of stannylene chemistry. To explore the rules of cycloaddition reaction between X2Si=Sn: and the symmetric p-bonded compounds, the cycloaddition reactions of Cl2Si=Sn: and ethylene were selected as model reactions in this paper.The mechanism of cycloaddition reaction between singlet Cl2Si=Sn: and ethylene has been first investigated with the MP2/GENECP(C, H, Cl, Si in 6-311++G**;Sn in LanL2dz) method in this paper. From the potential energy profile, it could be predicted that the reaction has one dominant reaction channel. The reaction rule presented is that the 5p unoccupied orbital of Sn in Cl2Si=Sn: and the π orbital of ethylene forming a p→p donor-acceptor bond, resulting in the formation of an intermediate. Instability of the intermediate makes it isomerize to a four-membered Si-heterocyclic ring stannylene. Because the 5p unoccupied orbital of Sn atom in the four-membered Si-heterocyclic ring stannylene and the π orbital of ethylene form a p→p donor-acceptor bond, the four-membered Si-heterocyclic ring stannylene further combines with ethene to form another intermediate. Because the Sn atom in the intermediate shows sp3 hybridization after transition state, the intermediate isomerizes to a Si-heterocyclic spiro-Sn-heterocyclic ring compound. The research result indicates the laws of cycloaddition reaction between X2Si=Sn: and the symmetric π-bonded compounds. The study opens up a new research field for stannylene chemistry.

Seasonal variation and ecological importance of tannin and nutrient concentrations in Casuarina equisetifolia branchlets and fine roots

In this study,we investigated the effects of environmental factors on plant phenolic variability,seasonal dynamics of total phenolic content(TP),extractable condensed tannins(ECT),protein-bound condensed tannins(PBCT),fiber-bound condensed tannins(FBCT),total condensed tannins(TCT),protein precipitation capacity(PPC)and nutrient content in the branchlets and fine roots of Casuarina equisetifolia.TP and TCT concentrations in branchlets were lowest in the spring,then increased in summer and autumn,similar to the seasonal dynamics in air temperature.TP and TCT concentrations in fine roots were highest in summer,coinciding with heavy precipitation.In general,TP and TCT concentrations were higher in branchlets than in fine roots.No significant difference was found in C concentration among various seasons for either branchlets or fine roots.Branchlets had significantly higher N and P concentrations than fine roots in most seasons.The C/N and N/P ratios in branchlets were significantly lower than in fine roots in all seasons,except summer.The relationship between branchlets and fine roots was significant for C,P and FBCT,but no significant relationships were found for N,TP,ECT,PBCT and TCT.Additionally,TP and TCT content were each significantly correlated with PPC in branchlets and in fine roots.Both TP/N and TCT/N ratios were highest in the autumn for the branchlets and in the summer for fine roots.The results indicate that high temperatures lead to increased tannin production in branchlets,but that the tannin content in fine roots is mainly affected by precipitation.Tannin content was greater in branchlets than in fine roots,which may indicate that selective pressure is greater on branchlets than on fine roots.

The effects of soil properties, cropping systems and geographic location on soil prokaryotic communities in four maize production regions across China

The diversity of prokaryotic communities in soil is shaped by both biotic and abiotic factors.However,little is known about the major factors shaping soil prokaryotic communities at a large scale in agroecosystems.To this end,we undertook a study to investigate the impact of maize production cropping systems,soil properties and geographic location(latitude and longitude)on soil prokaryotic communities using metagenomic techniques,across four distinct maize production regions in China.Across all study sites,the dominant prokaryotes in soil were Alphaproteobacteria,Gammaproteobacteria,Betaproteobacteria,Gemmatimonadetes,Acidobacteria,and Actinobacteria.Non-metric multidimensional scaling revealed that prokaryotic communities clustered into the respective maize cropping systems in which they resided.Redundancy analysis(RDA)showed that soil properties especially pH,geographic location and cropping system jointly determined the diversity of the prokaryotic communities.The functional genes of soil prokaryotes from these samples were chiefly influenced by latitude,soil pH and cropping system,as revealed by RDA analysis.The abundance of genes in some metabolic pathways,such as genes involved in microbe–microbe interactions,degradation of aromatic compounds,carbon fixation pathways in prokaryotes and microbial metabolism were markedly different across the four maize production regions.Our study indicated that the combination of soil pH,cropping system and geographic location significantly influenced the prokaryotic community and the functional genes of these microbes.This work contributes to a deeper understanding of the composition and function of the soil prokaryotic community across large-scale production systems such as maize.

Advances in research on chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of Paecilomyces hepiali

Paecilomyces hepiali is a fungus with edible and pharmaceutic value,isolated from Ophiocordyceps sinensis.Its main bioactive constituents contain alkaloids,cyclic dipeptides,steroids,organic acids,and polysaccharides.Due to the huge development potential of P.hepiali in the field of food and medicine,it has been developed into a variety of products that cater to the needs of the public.In this paper,the chemical constituents and their pharmacological effects of P.hepiali are reviewed,which can provide reference for the development and application of P.hepiali.

Assessment of Different Instruments and Methods for Detecting Pollution Share Rate of Heavy Metals in Water Samples

[ Objective ] This study aimed to investigate the impacts of different instruments and methods on detection of water samples and evaluate the detection results and pollution share rate. [ Method] Concentrations of six heavy metals in three surface water samples and three underground water samples were detected by AAS and ICP-AES to analyze the differences in detection results and calculate the pollution share rate of heavy metals. [Result] As a result, the pollution share rate of six heavy metals varied significantly. Calculation results of comprehensive pollution share rate based on the lower pollution index of the same heavy metal in the same water sample detected by two methods were different from the results using either method. Due to different detection limits of instruments, detection results of heavy metals in the same water sample were different, which affected the accuracy of environmental quality assessment. [ Conclusion ] The detected pollution share rate varies with different detection limits. Therefore, instruments and methods with lower detection limit should be used. To be specific, AAS is suitable for detection of Pb and Cd, while ICP is suitable for detection of Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn.

Determination of Triclocarban, Triclosan and Methyl-Triclosan in Environmental Water by Silicon Dioxide/Polystyrene Composite Microspheres Solid-Phase Extraction Combined with HPLC-ESI-MS

This paper developed a sensitive and efficient analytical method for triclocarban (TCC), triclosan (TCS) and Methyl-triclosan (MTCS) determination in environmental water, which involves enrichment by using silicon dioxide/polystyrene composite microspheres solid-phase extraction and detection with HPLC-ESI-MS. The influence of several operational parameters, including the eluant and its volume, the flow rate and acidity of water sample were investigated and optimized. Under the optimum conditions, the limits of detection were 1.0 ng/L, 2.5 and 4.5 ng/L for TCC, TCS, and MTCS, respectively. The linearity of the method was observed in the range of 5-2000 ng/L, with correlation coefficients (r2) >.99. The spiked recoveries of TCC, TCS and MTCS in water sampleswereachieved in the range of 89.5% -96.8% with RSD below 5.7%. The proposed method has been successfully applied to analyze real water samples and satisfactory results were achieved.

Identification of Tsuga Germplasm by Morphological Characters and RAPD Markers

Germplasm collection is important to preserve and maximize genetic diversity for germplasm conservation.Tsuga dumosa(D.Don)Eichler in Engler & Prantl.and T.chinensis var.forrestii(Downie)Silba germplasm was collected from three localities in China:Mt.Yulong,Wenfeng Temple and Mt.Dishiergu,Yunnan Province.Accessions were identified based on morphological characters and RAPD markers.The shapes of the apices and margins of needles were examined,and the length and width of needles,cones and seeds from accessions of mature plants were used to compare the morphological differences and to identify the germplasm.Molecular markers generated by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA(RAPD)were also used to characterize the taxa.Although the clustering based on RAPD markers was inconsistent with the morphological characters of the needles,based on the overall morphological characters and on RAPD markers,the accessions from Mt.Yulong and Wenfeng Temple were identified as T.chinensis var.forrestii,and those from Mt.Dishiergu identified as T.dumosa.Taxonomic identification of the accessions was made based on morphology and by RAPD markers concurred.The results indicate that the shapes of the apices and margins of needles particularly from young plants could not be used as a possible key to identify T.dumosa and T.chinensis var.forrestii.Fig 6,Tab 3,Ref

Preparation technology of Naoxueling capsules

Objective To optimize the preparation of the Naoxueling capsules.Methods To optimize the extraction of the Naoxueling prescription successively with alcohol and water,several principal ingredients in the final extracts were evaluated and data were analyzed by the orthogonal test.The capsule-molding process was investigated by measuring the angle of repose and the moisture absorption percentage.Results The optimum process of the alcohol extraction was the refluxing of herbs first in twelve-fold volume of 75% ethanol for 2 h,then in eight-fold volume of 75% ethanol for 1.5 h,and finally in seven-fold volume of 75% ethanol for 0.5 h.Meanwhile,the best water extraction was performed by boiling samples in twelve-fold amount of water for 2 h followed by another 1 h in eight-fold amount of water.To mold the capsule,the appropriate ratio of micro-powder to dextrin was 20:1.Conclusion The preparation technology of the Naoxueling capsules is reasonable and feasible,which provides evidences for the industrial manufacture.

Indoor Toxicity and Field Efficacy of Five Insecticides against Cerataphis lataniae Biosduval

[ Objective ] The paper aimed to screen out efficient and safe insecticides against Gerataphis lataniae Biosduval. [ Method ] Control effects of five insecticides against C. lataniae were studied through indoor bioassay and field trial. [ Result] Bioassay results showed that the indoor toxieities of 10% ct-cyper- methrin, 22% sulfoxaflor and 10% imidecloprid were higher, with LC50 of 15.28, 30.00 and 30.23 rag/L, respectively. In field trials, the control effects of 10% α-cypermethrin, 22% sulfoxaflor and 10% imidacloprid against C. lataniae were over 90% for all the concentrations at 10 d post adminstration. The control effect of 22% sulfoxaflor reached 100% for all the concentrations at 5 d post administration. [ Conclusion] 10% α-cypermethrin was a superior pesticide against C. /a- taniae, but 22% sulfoxaflor and 10% imidaclopfid were more efficient in emergency.

Main Components of Polyphenols of Trillium tschonoskii Maxim. and Changes under Different Se Concentrations

[Objectives] To analyze main components of polyphenols of Trillium tschonoskii Maxim. and study changes under different Se concentrations. [Methods] In this experiment,the Trillium tschonoskii Maxim. was used and spectrophotometry was applied to measure the total phenols in stems,leaves and rhizomes of Trillium tschonoskii Maxim. [Results]Total phenols in stems and leaves and rhizomes of Trillium tschonoskii Maxim. were 3. 026% and 0. 513% respectively,the content of total phenols in stems and leaves was 5. 9 times of that in rhizomes; total phenol extracting solution was analyzed through UV-Vis scanning,HPLC detection,and LC-MS; 3 main polyphenol compounds were obtained: chlorogenic acid,caffeic acid and rutin,in which chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid were firstly discovered in Trillium tschonoskii Maxim. and rutin was firstly discovered in stems and leaves of Trillium tschonoskii Maxim. HPLC method was used to measure the content of chlorogenic acid,caffeic acid,and rutin in stems and leaves of Trillium tschonoskii Maxim. under different Se concentrations. [Conclusions]The content of chlorogenic acid in stems and leaves of Trillium tschonoskii Maxim. increases with the increase of Se concentration,showing Se promotes Se accumulation and the maximum content of chlorogenic acid is 2. 58%; the content of caffeic acid in stems and leaves of Trillium tschonoskii Maxim. increases slightly with the Se concentration,showing the promotion of Se to accumulation of caffeic acid is not significant;the content of rutin in stems and leaves of Trillium tschonoskii Maxim. firstly increases then declines with the increase in Se concentration,at25 mg/kg Se concentration,rutin reached the maximum value,showing the promotion of Se to rutin accumulation is not significant.

High-throughput discovery of plastid genes causing albino phenotypes in ornamental chimeric plants

Chimeric plants composed of green and albino tissues have great ornamental value.To unveil the functional genes responsible for albino phenotypes in chimeric plants,we inspected the complete plastid genomes(plastomes)in green and albino leaf tissues from 23 ornamental chimeric plants belonging to 20 species,including monocots,dicots,and gymnosperms.In nine chimeric plants,plastomes were identical between green and albino tissues.Meanwhile,another 14 chimeric plants were heteroplasmic,showing a mutation between green and albino tissues.We identified 14 different point mutations in eight functional plastid genes related to plastid-encoded RNA polymerase(rpo)or photosystems which caused albinism in the chimeric plants.Among them,12 were deleterious mutations in the target genes,in which early termination appeared due to small deletion-mediated frameshift or single nucleotide substitution.Another was single nucleotide substitution in an intron of the ycf3 and the other was a missense mutation in coding region of the rpoC2 gene.We inspected chlorophyll structure,protein functional model of the rpoC2,and expression levels of the related genes in green and albino tissues of Reynoutria japonica.A single amino acid change,histidine-to-proline substitution,in the rpoC2 protein may destabilize the peripheral helix of plastid-encoded RNA polymerase,impairing the biosynthesis of the photosynthesis system in the albino tissue of R.japonica chimera plant.

First total synthesis,antitumor evaluation and target identification of mornaphthoate E:A new tubulin inhibitor template acting on PI3K/Akt signaling pathway

Mornaphthoate E(MPE)is a prenylated naphthoic acid methyl ester isolated from the roots of a famous Chinese medicinal plant Morinda officinalis and shows remarkable cytotoxicity against several human tumor cell lines.In the current project,the first total synthesis of(±)-MPE was achieved in seven steps and 5.6%overall yield.Then the in vitro anti-tumor activity of MPE was first assessed for both enantiomers in two breast cancer cells,with the levoisomer exerting slightly better potency.The in vivo anti-tumor effect was further verified by applying the racemate in an orthotopic autograft mouse model.Notably,MPE exerted promising anti-metastasis activity both in vitro and in vivo and showed no obvious toxicity on mice at the therapeutic dosage.Mechanistic investigations demonstrated that MPE acted as a tubulin polymerization stabilizer and disturbed the dynamic equilibrium of microtubules via regulating PI3K/Akt signaling.In conclusion,our work has provided a new chemical template for the future design and development of next-generation tubulin-targeting chemotherapies.

Piperine,an active ingredient of black pepper attenuates acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in mice

Objective:To explore the hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of piperine against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in mice.Methods:In mice,hepatotoxicity was induced by a single dose of acetaminophen(900 mg/kg b.w.i.p.).Piperine(25 mg/kg b.w.i.p.) and standard drug silymarin(25 mg/kg b.w.i.p.) were given to mice,30 min after the single injection of acetaminophen.After 4 h,the mice were decapitated.Activities of liver marker enzymes [(aspartate transaminase(AST),alanine transaminase(ALT),and alkaline phosphatase(ALP)]and inflammatory mediator tumour necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α) were estimated in serum,while lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status(superoxide dismutase,catalase,glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase,glutathione-s-transferase and glutathione) were determined in liver homogenate of control and experimental mice.Results:Acetaminophen induction(900 mg/kg b.w.i.p.) significantly increased the levels of liver marker enzymes,TNF-α,and lipid peroxidation,and caused the depletion of antioxidant status.Piperine and silymarin treatment to acetaminophen challenged mice resulted in decreased liver marker enzymes activity,TNF-αand lipid peroxidation levels with increase in antioxidant status.Conclusions:The results clearly demonstrate that piperine shows promising hepatoprotective effect as comparable to standard drug silymarin.

Preparation of special silicon steel grade MgO from hydromagnesite

A preparation technology of MgO powder used in special silicon steel from hydromagnesite mineral has been developed. The preparation technology includes the following steps： （1） calcining the hydromagnesite at 700-750°C for 1.5-2 h; （2） hydrating the calcined hydromagnesite to be slurry containing the solid-liquid ratio of 15-20 g？L？1; （3） acquiring Mg（HCO3）2 solution by carbonating the slurry, the carbonation temperature, CO2 pressure, and end point PH value of carbonation are less than 40°C, 0.4-0.6 MPa, and 7 respectively during the carbonation process; （4） preparing precipitated basic magnesium carbonate by thermally decomposing the Mg（HCO3）2 solution at 90-100°C; （5） obtaining the MgO product by calcining the precipitated basic magnesium carbonate at 850-950°C for 30-60 min, and adopting flowing nitrogen during the cooling process. By using this technology, more than 80wt% magnesium in hydromagnesite mineral can be extracted, and high-performance MgO products used in special silicon steel can be ob- tained.

Noble strain of Sparassis latifolia produces high content of β-glucan

Objective: To classify four new Sparassis strains(CLM1, CKM1, CKM2, and KJM1) using the internal transcribed spacer sequence and to elucidate their β-glucan content and mycelial growth.Methods: Two different microbiological media were used to determine growth rate. The β-glucan contents were analyzed using the Megazyme Mushroom and Yeast Beta-Glucan kit. To determine the genetic relationships, phylogenetic trees were constructed using ClustalX. Multiple sequence alignments were printed and shaded with the BOXSHADE 3.21 program. Results: In this study, four new Sparassis strains were isolated from the southern region of the Korea Peninsula. They were all classified into the Sparassis latifolia clade as a monophyletic group based on the internal transcribed spacer sequence. Mycelial growth rate of the CLM1 strain was highest in potato dextrose agar and potato dextrose agar larch. The β-glucan content of the CLM1 strain was highest at 29.5%(w/w). A high degree of sequence divergence was detected in the RNA polymerase second largest subunit II gene(RPB2) within Sparassis spp. tested. The putative amino acid sequences of the RPB2 had a distinct sequence. The nucleotide sequences of the RPB2's intron were also divergent among Sparassis spp., even though their nucleotide length was well conserved within Sparassis latifolia. Conclusions: These results indicate that the nucleotide sequences and the amino acid sequences of RPB2 can be used to identify individual Sparassis sp. The Sparassis strain CLM1 may be best for developing a remedy to prevent or treat cancer and other chronic diseases.

Antioxidant Enzymes and Cancer

Although oxidation is the most common biological and energy producing reaction, oxidative stress is harmful to cell, because the products of oxidation such as free radicals and peroxides damage the cellular components, causing several diseases. Damage in DNA is responsible for cancer formation and progression. However, several enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase etc. act as antioxidants to influence oxidative stress. Polymorphisms in these enzymes are supposed to be associated with DNA damage and subsequently the individual＇s risk of cancer susceptibility. This review article aims to further elucidate the relationship between antioxidant enzymes and cancers by summarizing the findings of some of the important study concerning expression levels and genetic polymorphisms of antioxidant enzymes in cancer patients.

Progresses of mycobacteriophage-based Mycobacterium tuberculosis detection

Tuberculosis(TB)remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide,particularly in developing countries.A rapid and efficient method for TB diagnosis is indispensable to check the trend of tuberculosis expansion.The emergence of drug-resistant bacteria has increased the challenge of rapid drug resistance tests.Due to its high specificity and sensitivity,bacteriophage-based diagnosis is intensively pursued.In this review,we mainly described mycobacteriophage-based diagnosis in TB detection,especially two prevalent approaches:fluorescent reporter phage and phage amplified biologically assay(PhaB).The rationale of reporter phage is that phage carrying fluorescent genes can infect host bacteria specifically.Phage amplified biological assay based on the principle that phages can infect the live Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the specimen under suitable conditions and produce plaques.Other phage-based diagnostic methods,such as a combination of the amplified biologically assay and nucleic acid amplification or lateral flow assays,are also actively explored.This review will help us improve the understanding of mycobacteriophages in TB detection and better promote the development of the rapid diagnosis of M.tuberculosis.

Screening of active fractions from Radix of Actinidiae chinensis in vitro

Objective Radix of Actinidiae chinensis,a medicinal plant used in China,is the dry root of Actini-diaceae plant and has been extensively employed to treat cancers of various organs,including the lung,liver and digestive system.However,up to now,its active antitumor and antiviral fractions remain unclear.The main purpose of this study is to identify the antitumor and antiviral sites of Radix of Actinidiae chinensis,which provides evidences for its further development.Methods Radix of Actinidiae chinensis was extracted by the refluxing sequentially with acetidin,ethanol and water,followed by the column chromatography and thin layer chromatography.The antitumor effects on Bel-7402,SW-620 and MDA-MB-231 tumor cells were investigated to screen the active antitumor sites by cell inhibition,the growth curve and the apoptosis staining.Meanwhile,to screen the active anti-hepatovirus fractions,the cell growth and the secretion of HBsAg and HBeAg in HepG2.2.15 cells were evaluated by the MTT test and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay respectively.Results The acetidin fraction Y(Y1+Y2),the ethanol fraction A(A1+A3+A4) and B(A1+A4+A6),and the fraction compound C(A1+A4+Y1) have strong inhibitive effects on Bel-7402,SW-620 and MDA-MB-231 tumor cell lines.Moreover,the tumor cell apoptosis could be induced by the ethanol fraction B and the fraction compound C.In HepG2.2.15 cells,the treatment indexes of the acetidin fraction Y,the ethanol fraction A and the fraction compound C all exceeded 2 on the secretion of HBsAg,indicating the suppre-ssive effects of them on hepatitis B virus.The fraction yields of A,B and C exceeded 50%(60.28%,54.35% and 62.64% respectively),while that of Y did not(17.7%).Conclusion The ethanol fraction B and the fraction compound C are the antitumor sites of Actinidiae chinensis Radix,while the ethanol fraction A and the fraction compound C are its antiviral sites.