Ethanol production from steam-explosion pretreated wheat straw

Bioconversion of cereal straw to bioethanol is becoming an attractive alternative to conventional fuel ethanol production from grains. In this work, the best operational conditions for steam-explosion pretreatment of wheat straw for ethanol production by a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process were studied, using diluted acid [H₂SO₄ 0.9% (w/w)] and water as preimpregnation agents. Acid-or water-impregnated biomass was steam-exploded at different temperatures (160–200°C) and residence times (5, 10, and 20 min). Composition of solid and filtrate obtained after pretreatment, enzymatic digestibility and ethanol production of pretreated wheat straw at different experimental conditions was analyzed. The best pretreatment conditions to obtain high conversion yield to ethanol (approx 80% of theoretical) of cellulose-rich residue after steam-explosion were 190°C and 10 min or 200°C and 5 min, in acid-impregnated straw. However, 180°C for 10 min in acid-impregnated biomass provided the highest ethanol yield referred to raw material (140 L/t wheat straw), and sugars recovery yield in the filtrate (300 g/kg wheat straw).     

Explorative data analysis of two-dimensional electrophoresis gels

Methods for classification of two-dimensional (2-DE) electrophoresis gels based on multivariate data analysis are demonstrated. Two-dimensional gels of ten wheat varieties are analyzed and it is demonstrated how to classify the wheat varieties in two qualities and a method for initial screening of gels is presented. First, an approach is demonstrated in which no prior knowledge of the separated proteins is used. Alignment of the gels followed by a simple transformation of data makes it possible to analyze the gels in an automated explorative manner by principal component analysis, to determine if the gels should be further analyzed. A more detailed approach is done by analyzing spot volume lists by principal components analysis and partial least square regression. The use of spot volume data offers a mean to investigate the spot pattern and link the classified protein patterns to distinct spots on the gels for further investigation. The explorative approach in analysis of 2-D gels makes it possible, in a fast and convenient way, to screen many gels in order to determine the protein patterns that form clusters and could be selected for further examination.     

A novel zirconocene/ultradispersed diamond black powder supported catalytic system for ethylene polymerization

A novel carrier of ultradispersed diamond black powder (UDDBP) was used to support metallocene catalyst. Al₂O₃ was also used as carrier in order to compare with UDDBP. Supported catalysts for ethylene polymerization were synthesized by two different reaction methods. One way was direct immobilization of the metallocene on the support, the other was adsorption of MAO onto the support followed by addition of the metallocene. Four supported catalysts Cp₂ZrCl₂/UDDBP, Cp₂ZrCl₂/Al₂O₃, Cp₂ZrCl₂/MAO/UDDBP and Cp₂ZrCl₂/Al₂O₃/MAO were obtained. The content of the zirconium in the supported catalyst was determined by UV spectroscopy. The activity of the ethylene polymerization catalyzed by supported catalyst was investigated. The influence of Al/Zr molar ratio and polymerization temperature on the activity was discussed. The polymerization rate was also observed.     

Influence of extractions on physicochemical characterization and bioactivity of Piper nigrum oils: Study on the non-isothermal decomposition kinetic

Black pepper oils have been investigated frequently in the recent years. However, there is a significant variation in physicochemical properties and bioactivity of oils depended on extraction techniques. In this study, the systemic investigation of four various extraction methods was performed to evaluate the physicochemical characterizations, antioxidant and antibacterial activity. The investigation of ¹H NMR, FTIR and UV–Vis spectra confirmed presence of non-volatile components in oils extracted through supercritical CO₂ and hexane-soaking extractions which induced their typical thermal properties. The isothermal behaviour of extracted oils related to evaporation was within range of 3.2–7.3% (w/w) at 27 °C. The SEM images of the black pepper confirmed different operation manners of mechanism between extractions using the solvents and heating process. The lowest MIC for both essential oils from conventional hidrodistillation and microwave-assisted hidrodistillation against two bacteria including E. coli and B. subtilis were found to be 137 µg mL⁻¹. The non-isothermal decomposition kinetics were investigated on the essential oil of microwave-assisted hydrodistillation extraction. The activation energies and pre-exponent factors of non-isothermal decomposition were found to be in range of 36.5–73.7 KJ mol⁻¹ and 4.98 × 10³–1.97 × 10⁸ s⁻¹, respectively, dependent on conversional fractions of the oil. The results revealed that chemical components, physicochemical properties and bioactivity of black pepper essential oils depended on the extraction techniques.     

CT联合血清HCY、β2-M在下肢动脉狭窄闭塞性疾病中的诊断价值

本文对CT联合血清同型半胱氨酸（HCY）、β2-微球蛋白（β2-M）在下肢动脉狭窄闭塞性疾病中的诊断价值进行分析。选取上海市金山区中西医结合医院收治的120例疑似下肢动脉狭窄闭塞性疾病患者进行研究，选取同期健康体检者120例作为对照组，对患者进行CT检查、血清HCY和β2-M水平检查，并比较了CT诊断下肢动脉狭窄闭塞情况、两组患者血清HCY和β2-M水平，以明确CT、HCY、β2-M诊断价值及误诊率、漏诊率。结果显示，120例疑似患者中，CT检测出646节段病变血管，其中轻度狭窄155节段，中度狭窄257节段，重度狭窄143节段，血管完全闭塞91节段；研究组患者血清HCY、β2-M水平明显高于对照组，两组比较差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）；HCY的AUC为0.863，截断值>21.75（μmol/L），诊断敏感性为79.00%，特异性为80.00%，β2-M的AUC为0.837，截断值>2.98（μmol/mL），诊断敏感性为75.25%，特异性为65.21%；CT诊断阳性率为67.50%，HCY诊断阳性率为69.17%，β2-M诊断阳性率为67.50%，三者联合诊断阳性率为82.50%，联合诊断阳性率高于CT、HCY、β2-M单独诊断阳性率（P<0.05）；CT、HCY、β2-M单一检测对下肢动脉狭窄闭塞性疾病均有较高灵敏度、特异性及准确度，但三者联合诊断灵敏度、特异性及准确度最高，误诊率、漏诊率最低。本文证实了采用CT联合血清HCY、β2-M诊断下肢动脉狭窄闭塞性疾病诊断灵敏度、特异性及准确度高，误诊率、漏诊率低。     

The extraction,antioxidant and against β-amyloid induced toxicity of polyphenols from Alsophila spinulosa leaves

Alsophila spinulosa is a tree-like fern, and many evidences suggested that plant polyphenols had the potential therapeutic for Alzheimer s disease (AD). Herein, polyphenols (ASP) was isolated from A. spinulosa leaves and its major constituent were isoorientin and vitexin. ASP displayed excellent antioxidant activity and obvious anti-lipid peroxidation capacity in vitro. ASP improved the survival rate of C. elegans under high temperature by enhancing the antioxidant enzymes activities and decreasing the lipid peroxidation level. Moreover, ASP alleviated β-amyloid (Aβ) induced paralysis and reduced Aβ deposition, decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and improved the level of skn-1 mRNA. In addition, ASP decreased the levels of pdk-1 and akt-1 mRNA in P13K/AKT signaling pathway. In conclusion, ASP may be a potential ingredient for the alleviation of AD.     

116例冠心病患者血清中铜铬锰钴镍钒含量的探讨

测定了１１６例冠心病患者血清中铜、铬、锰、钴、镍、钒的含量并与正常值比较，显示含量升高才是有铬和镍，降低者有钴和钒、无差异者有铜和锰。     

New strategy for the determination of gliadins in maize- or rice-based foods matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry: fractionation of gliadins from maize or rice prolamins by acidic treatment

A procedure for determining small quantities of gliadins by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) in gluten-free foods containing relatively large amounts of prolamin proteins from maize or rice is described. We report for the first time that gliadins, the ethanol-soluble wheat prolamin fraction, can be quantitatively solubilized in 1.0 M acetic acid, while the corresponding ethanol-soluble maize or rice prolamin fraction remains insoluble in acetic acid. We describe a methodology for the detection of gliadins in maize and rice foods based on a two-step procedure of extraction (60% aqueous ethanol followed by 1 M acetic acid). Subsequent MALDI-TOFMS analysis of the resulting acidic extract from these gluten-free foods clearly confirms the presence of a typical mass pattern corresponding to gliadin components, ranging from 30 to 45 kDa. Depending on the percentages of maize or rice flours employed in the elaboration of these foods, the combined procedure enables levels of gliadins from 100 to 400 ppm to be detected. The efficiency of this combined procedure corroborates enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay data for a large number of maize/rice gluten-free foods by means of direct visualization of the characteristic gliadin mass pattern in maize or rice foods.     

静息态脑功能连接在不同认知状态老年人中的应用

目的探讨不同认知状态老年人静息态脑功能连接情况。方法收集阿尔茨海默病患者（AD组）13例、轻度认知功能障碍患者（MCI组）12例、认知正常老年人（对照组）13例，进行磁共振扫描，应用局部一致性（ReHo）方法确定种子点，并进行静息态功能连接分析。结果在静息状态下，AD组和MCI组患者的后扣带回区域、额叶内侧、前额叶背外侧和顶叶部分区域的ReHo均较高。与对照组相比，MCI患者左侧颞叶（颞下回及颞中回）、海马旁回及右侧枕叶舌回、皮层下的部分脑区ReHo显著降低；而右侧额叶（额上回、额中回及中央前回）、顶上小叶及左侧梭状回、颞上回、额下回的部分脑区ReHo显著增高。AD患者变化更加明显，额叶-顶叶，颞叶-脑岛，颞叶-枕叶之间的长距离连接降低，但是额叶内部和枕颞间、丘脑及颞叶间的功能连接增高，3组间差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论3组不同认知状态老年人的功能连接不同，有助于AD、MCI患者及正常老年人的鉴别诊断。     

A Ten Years Monitoring of Chlorofluorocarbons at the Antarctica: Results and Perspectives

Abstract

Chlorofluorocarbons are man-made long lasting atmospheric pollutants of great environmental concern, responsible for important global change phenomena. Recently, they were replaced by hydrogenated halocarbons that, even if less persistent, do not lack in environmental impact. Atmospheric concentrations of these compounds were measured in Antarctica by gas chromatography. The extremely low atmospheric mixing ratios of these compounds require a pre-concentration step of the air sample on suitable adsorbent in order to meet the sensitivity of the analytical method Results obtained analyzing air samples collected in Antarctica since 1988 for the determination of CFC-12 and CFC-11 are reported, together with data concerning the less abundant species.