Extraction and analysis of ellagic acid from novel complex sources

Ellagic acid (EA) was quantified by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RPHPLC) coupled with photodiode array detection (DAD) in five fine-powdered plants collected from the semiarid region of Mexico. Samples analysed included Jatropha dioica branches (Dragon’s blood), Euphorbia antisyphyllitica branches (Candelilla), Turnera diffusa Willd leaves (Damiana), Flourensia cernua leaves (hojasén) and Punica granatum husk (pomegranate) at two maturity stages (“turning” or intermediate and maturated fruit, considered as positive controls). The results demonstrated high EA concentrations in all tested samples which are novel sources of this natural antioxidant. The method developed for the EA analysis is fast and it showed an excellent linearity range, repeatability, intra-and inter-day precision and accuracy with respect to the methods reported for the EA analysis.     

Integrated rate expression for the production of glucose equivalent in C4 green plant and the effect of temperature

A temperature-dependent integrated kinetics for the overall process of photosynthesis in green plants is discussed. The C₄ plants are chosen and in these plants, the rate of photosynthesis does not depend on the partial pressure of O₂. Using some basic concepts like chemical equilibrium or steady state approximation, a simplified scheme is developed for both light and dark reactions. The light reaction rate per reaction center (R′ ₁) in thylakoid membrane is related to the rate of exciton transfer between chlorophyll neighbours and an expression is formulated for the light reaction rate R′ ₁. A relation between R′ ₁ and the NADPH formation rate is established. The relation takes care of the survival probability of the membrane. The CO₂ saturation probability in bundle sheath is also taken into consideration. The photochemical efficiency (ϕ) is expressed in terms of these probabilities. The rate of glucose production is given by R _glucose = (8/3)(R′ ₁ v _L )ϕ(T) _g (T) ([G3P]/[P _i]² _leaf)_SS Q _{G3P→glucose} where g is the activity quotient of the involved enzymes, and G3P represent glycealdehyde-3-phosphate in steady state. A Gaussian distribution for temperature-dependence and a sigmoid function for de-activation are incorporated through the quotient g. In general, the probabilities are given by sigmoid curves. The corresponding parameters can be easily determined. The theoretically determined temperature-dependence of photochemical efficiency and glucose production rate agree well with the experimental ones, thereby validating the formalism.     

Relay feedback analysis for a class of servo plants

In this paper, a class of second-order servo plants under relay feedback is studied. Complete results on the uniqueness of solutions, existence and stability of the limit cycles are established using the point transformation method. And a numerical method is developed for determining the amplitude and period of a stable limit cycle from the plant parameters.     

The Mediterranean aromatic plants and their culinary use.

Over the centuries, aromatic plants have acquired both practical relevance and socio-cultural meanings that have influenced the evolution of humanity itself and created relevant economic value. In fact, since a long time ago spices were promoted to a leading economic role, and their profitability has been often comparable to that of other commodities traded in much larger volumes. Many geographical discoveries, explorations, worldwide relationships between populations in different continents, were undertaken in order to meet the quest for new flavours, new tastes, new medicinal plants or to find new markets for those already known. While the use of plants in medicine offers an extensive written documentation produced by most ancient human civilizations, the same can not be said for food herbs and flavouring spices. However, without the adequate selection of edible, reliable and valuable plants from the whole biodiversity pool operated by folk cultures everywhere in the world, their proper combination would have never been elaborated and cuisines, like the Mediterranean ones, would have not attained such unique mix of flavour, taste and nutrient content that has no equal in the world. Therefore, any consideration on herbs and aromatic plants in the kitchen leads inequivocally to a journey into tradition.     

Hard uncertainties in multiobjective layout optimization of photovoltaic power plants

This paper describes how to treat hard uncertainties defined by so-called uncertainty maps in multiobjective optimization problems. For the uncertainty map being set-valued, a Taylor formula is shown under appropriate assumptions. The hard uncertainties are modeled using parametric set optimization problems for which a scalarization result is given. The presented new approach for the solution of multiobjective optimization problems with hard uncertainties is then applied to the layout optimization of photovoltaic power plants. Since good weather forecasts are difficult to obtain for future years, weather data are really hard uncertainties arising in the planning process. Numerical results are presented for a real-world problem on the Galapagos island Isabela.     

Inhibitory effects of the extracts with different solvents from three compositae plants on cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosas

The algicidal activity of the terrestrial plants is a novel and promising means for alga control of eutrophic waters.In this study,three compositae plants — Artemisia annua(A.annua),Conyza canadensis(C.canadensis),and Erigeron annuus(E.annuus) were selected and antialgal activity of petroleum ether(PE),ethyl acetate(EA) and ethanol extracts of these plants on blue algae Microcystis aeruginosa was investigated.The result shows the EA extracts of these plants present the stronger inhibitory effects.The result...     

Advanced development in analysis of phytochemicals from medicine and food dual purposes plants used in China

The concept of "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food" was widely accepted for thousand years. It is now well known that some foods and food components have beneficial physiological and psychological effects. In China, the Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of China announced 87 items of materials, including 81 plants, could be used as both medicine and food. Increasing consumer demand for safety and health benefits, it is of critical importance to have high-quality and comprehensive data on bioactive compounds (phytochemicals) in these materials. In this review, we summarized the advanced development (2006-2010) in analysis of phytochemicals from medicine and food dual purposes plants (MFDPP) used in China.     

An economic model for investing in sulfur oxide control technology development

The model estimates, subject to restrictions, the functional relationship between national sulfur dioxide discharges and investment in control technology development. Estimates may be made for different product demands, allowed cost increases, and clean fuel availabilities. Control technology development may be accelerated by increased investment. Both optimal and sub-optimal solutions are calculated for an example problem. A general computing method is provided.The model was presented at the Industrial Process Design for Pollution Control Workshop, Chicago, Illinois, Oct. 1973; copyright released by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers for publication for the first time in the monographNormative Analysis in Policy Decisions: Public and Private.     

浙江分布的中国种子植物特有属研究

浙江分布的中国种子植物特有属有49 属, 含63 种, 隶属于30 科, 其中有3 属为浙江特有属;在49 属 中, 单种属29 个, 少种属10 个, 多种属10 个;特有属的特征概括为:单种特有属的比例大, 木本属占优势、 具有相对的原始或古老性和珍稀濒危性以及具有明显的温带性质;浙西北山区, 特别是西天目山是中国 特有属在浙江的分布中心;浙江与全国各省区的共有属的关系为华东(46 属)>华中(36 属)>华南(32) >西北(16 属), 而与东北和华北两地的关系很少有联系;浙江与毗邻省份的特有属相似性分析, 其与江西 和安徽的关系比与福建和江苏更为密切.     

DEVELOPMENT AND IDENTIFICATION OF CHINESE SPRING Ta1 kr ph1b PLANTS AND THEIR USE ON GENETIC TRANSFER OF DESIRABLE GENES FROM Aegilops

Chinese Spring Tal kr phlb plants were developed by hybridizing Tal common wheat and Chinese Spring phlb mutant and backcrosses. When Chinese Spring Tal kr phlb plants were crossed with some wild species of Triticeae, much more seeds of wide hybridization can be obtained without artificial emasculation and pollination because of the existence of Tat and kr genes. The homoeologous chromosomes between common wheat and the wild species of Triticeae can also pair and exhibit cross-over in the hybrid F1 plants because of the existence of the phlb gene. So that more alien desirable genes can be transferred to common wheat rapidly. Therefore, Chinese Spring Tal kr phlb plants become a powerful tool for wide hybridization and transferring alien desirable genes to common wheat.