Comparison of the chemical constituents of aged pu-erh tea, ripened pu-erh tea, and other teas using HPLC-DAD-ESI-MSn

Pu-erh tea is a popular beverage in southwestern China and South Asian countries. To explain the differences of aged pu-erh tea and ripened pu-erh tea, the chemical constituents of these teas were identified by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS(n). In addition, HPLC was used to determine the contents of the major polyphenols, gallic acid, caffeine, and theobromine, in various types of teas. These results showed that the majority of chemical constituents in ripened pu-erh tea and aged pu-erh tea were similar, but the contents of catechins and gallic acid presented significant differences between these two teas. After fermentation by microorganism, the levels of catechins in ripened pu-erh tea were decreased, but the contents of gallic acid and caffeine were conversely elevated compared with aged pu-erh tea.     

人工合成抗菌肽D2A21基因的克隆和表达

为了获得高效表达的抗菌肽D2A21,本研究根据抗菌肽D2A21的氨基酸序列及大肠杆菌偏爱的密码子,设计并人工合成D2A21基因,并将该合成基因克隆至pProEXHTb载体中,构建成含有含6个组氨酸标签的重组质粒。重组质粒转化至大肠杆菌中,经摇瓶发酵,IPTG诱导后,发酵液用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳分析。结果表明,成功合成D2A21基因,并构建了抗菌肽D2A21表达载体。通过镍柱亲和层析纯化,聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳分析,抗菌肽D2A21能够在大肠杆菌中稳定表达。本研究将为大规模表达纯化D2A21及其进一步的研究和利用提供一定基础。     

Biochar derived from dairy cattle carcasses as an alternative source of phosphorus and amendment for soil acidity

Two pot experiments were conducted to evaluate biochar derived from dead dairy cattle as a mineral fertilizer, especially phosphorus (P) fertilizer, and to clarify the effect of particle size of biochar on plant growth (Zea mays L.) and P uptake. To produce the biochar, body parts of dead cattle were placed in a charring chamber and allowed to char at 450°C for 4 h. The biochar was of high pH and rich in major plant nutrients, especially P. Application of fine biochar (< 1 mm) increased P uptake by the corn plants grown in soil of low available P status. As a result, plant growth was improved following biochar application and dry matter production was also increased. The effect of the biochar application on the P uptake and plant growth was promoted by the application of mineral nitrogen (N) fertilizer. Soil analysis after harvest indicated that the biochar application increased soil pH, available P and exchangeable calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) compared with the soil before seeding, while soil available N and exchangeable potassium (K) were considerably decreased. The decrease in the soil available N was incomprehensible, because the result of the mass balance given by the difference between input as the applied N from the biochar and fertilizer N and output as the N uptake by the plants was positive. We observed a similar result in the mass balance of K to the case of N. The medium (2–4 mm) and coarse (> 4 mm) grade biochar did not significantly affect plant growth, because P uptake was not, or was only slightly, increased by the application of these biochars. Dissolution of P from the coarser biochars was probably slower than that of the fine biochar. The lower dissolution of P from the medium and coarse biochars was supported by the lower P absorption efficiency of these biochars compared with that of the fine biochar and superphosphate. The effect of fine biochar on plant growth and P uptake was similar to that of superphosphate. We can therefore conclude that fine biochar derived from cattle carcasses is an effective source of P fertilizer and amendment for soil acidity. The N and K contents in the biochar, although relatively high, cannot be relied upon as a mineral fertilizer. Further studies are needed to assess whether the N and K contents of the biochar indicate it can be regarded as a useful fertilizer.     

Heterogeneous aspects of lipid oxidation in dried microencapsulated oils

This work was aimed at studying lipid oxidation in dried microencapsulated oils (DMOs) during long-term storage. Samples were prepared by freeze-drying of emulsions containing sodium caseinate and lactose as encapsulating components. Evaluation of lipid oxidation was approached by quantitative analysis of nonvolatile lipid oxidation products and tocopherol. Lipid oxidation products were analyzed by separation of polar compounds by adsorption chromatography followed by HPSEC with refraction index detection for quantitation of oxidized triglyceride monomers, dimers, and oligomers. The analytical method applied enabled the detection of different oxidative patterns between the free and encapsulated oil fractions. The free oil fraction of DMOs showed a typical oxidative pattern for oils in continuous phase, which consisted of a clear induction period, in which hydroperoxides (oxidized triglyceride monomers) accumulated, before oxidation accelerated. The end of the induction period was marked by the total loss of tocopherol and the initiation of polymerization. On the contrary, the encapsulated oil showed a pattern characteristic of a mixture of oils with different oxidation status. Thus, high contents of advanced oxidation compounds (polymerization compounds) were detected when the antioxidant (tocopherol) was still present in high amounts. It is concluded that the encapsulated oil was comprised of oil globules with very different oxidation status. The results obtained in this study gave evidence of heterogeneous aspects of lipid oxidation in a dispersed-lipid food system.     

Use of Aloe vera gel coating preserves the functional properties of table grapes

Table grapes (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Crimson Seedless) were coated with Aloe vera gel according to our developed patent (SP Patent P200302937) and then stored for 35 days at 1 degrees C, and the subsequent shelf life (SL) was monitored at 20 degrees C. Uncoated clusters showed a rapid loss of functional compounds, such as total phenolics and ascorbic acid. These changes were accompanied by reduction of the total antioxidant activity (TAA) and increases in total anthocyanins, showing an accelerated ripening process. On the contrary, table grapes coated with Aloe vera gel significantly delayed the above changes, such as the retention of ascorbic acid during cold storage or SL. Consequently, Aloe vera gel coating, a simple and noncontaminating treatment, maintained the functional properties during postharvest storage of table grapes.     

Purification of xylitol obtained by fermentation of corncob hydrolysates

Hydrolysates obtained by autohydrolysis-posthydrolysis of corncobs were detoxified with charcoal, concentrated, supplemented with nutrients, and fermented with Debaryomyces hansenii. After biomass removal, the fermented media contained 0.1137 kg of nonvolatile components (NVC)/kg of liquor, which corresponded mainly to xylitol (0.6249 kg/kg of NVC) but also to minor amounts of inorganic components (measured as ashes), proteins, nonfermented sugars (xylose and arabinose), uronic acids, arabitol, and other nonvolatile components (ONVC). The media were subjected to further processing (sequential stages of adsorption, concentration, ethanol precipitation, concentration, and crystallization) to obtain food-grade xylitol. Adsorption experiments were carried out at various solid-to-liquor ratios. Under selected conditions (1 kg of charcoal/15 kg of liquors), the xylitol content increased to 0.6873 kg/kg of NVC, and almost total decoloration was achieved. The resulting liquor was concentrated by evaporation to increase its NVC content to 0.4032 kg/kg of liquor (corresponding to a xylitol concentration of 0.280 kg/kg of liquor), and ethanol was added to precipitate a part of the NVC (mainly proteins, but also uronic acids, ashes, and other nonvolatile compounds). Refined liquors (containing 0.7303 kg of xylitol/kg of NVC) were concentrated again, and ethanol was added (to reach 40-60% volume of the stream) to allow crystallization at -10 or -5 degrees C. Under selected conditions, 43.7% of xylitol contained in the initial fermentation broth was recovered in well-formed, homogeneous crystals, in which xylitol accounted for 98.9% of the total oven-dry weight. Material balances are presented for the whole processing scheme considered in this work.     

Time-resolved spectral studies of blue-green fluorescence of artichoke (Cynara cardunculus L. Var. Scolymus) leaves: identification of chlorogenic acid as one of the major fluorophores and age-mediated changes

Synchrotron radiation and the time-correlated single-photon counting technique were used to investigate the spectral and time-resolved characteristics of blue-green fluorescence (BGF) of artichoke leaves. Leaves emitted BGF under ultraviolet (UV) excitation; the abaxial side was much more fluorescent than the adaxial side, and in both cases, the youngest leaves were much more fluorescent than the oldest ones. The BGF of artichoke leaves was dominated by the presence of hydroxycinnamic acids. A decrease in the percentage of BGF attributable to the very short kinetic component (from 42 to 20%), in the shape of the BGF excitation spectra, and chlorogenic acid concentrations indicate that there is a loss of hydroxycinnamic acid with leaf age. Studies on excitation, emission, and synchronized fluorescence spectra of leaves and trichomes and chlorogenic acid contents indicate that chlorogenic acid is one of the main blue-green fluorophores in artichoke leaves. Results of the present study indicate that 20-42% (i.e., the very short kinetic component) of the overall BGF is emitted by chlorogenic acid. Time-resolved BGF measurements could be a means to extract information on chlorogenic acid fluorescence from the overall leaf BGF.     

Effect of fruiting body maturity stage on chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Lactarius sp. mushrooms

The effects of fruiting body maturity on chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the wild mushrooms, Lactarius deliciosus and Lactarius piperatus, were evaluated. Immature and mature samples were analyzed for proximate constituents (moisture, fat, crude protein, ash, carbohydrates), nutritional value, and individual composition in fatty acids and sugars. Protein content, MUFA (monounsaturated fatty acids), and PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acids) percentages increased with the fruiting body maturity stage, while carbohydrate and SFA (saturated fatty acids) content decreased. The maturity stage did not significantly affect the individual sugar profile. The antimicrobial activity of the mushrooms was screened against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria and fungi, and correlated to the amounts of phenols, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, beta-carotene, and lycopene present in the immature and mature fruiting bodies. Mature fruiting bodies with mature spores presented lower antimicrobial activity, which was in agreement with the bioactive compound content found in those samples.     

Empirical analysis and prediction of nitrate loading and crop yield for corn-soybean rotations

Nitrate nitrogen losses through subsurface drainage and crop yield are determined by multiple climatic and management variables. The combined and interactive effects of these variables, however, are poorly understood. Our objective is to predict crop yield, nitrate concentration, drainage volume, and nitrate loss in subsurface drainage from a corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) rotation as a function of rainfall amount, soybean yield for the year before the corn-soybean sequence being evaluated, N source, N rate, and timing of N application in northeastern Iowa, U.S.A. Ten years of data (1994-2003) from a long-term study near Nashua, Iowa were used to develop multivariate polynomial regression equations describing these variables. The regression equations described over 87, 85, 94, 76, and 95% of variation in soybean yield, corn yield, subsurface drainage, nitrate concentration, and nitrate loss in subsurface drainage, respectively. A two-year rotation under average soil, average climatic conditions, and 125 kg N/ha application was predicted to loose 29, 37, 36, and 30 kg N/ha in subsurface drainage for early-spring swine manure, fall-applied swine manure, early-spring UAN fertilizer, and late-spring split UAN fertilizer (urea ammonium nitrate), respectively. Predicted corn yields were 10.0 and 9.7 Mg/ha for the swine manure and UAN sources applied at 125 kg N/ha. Timing of application (i.e., fall or spring) did not significantly affect corn yield. These results confirm other research suggesting that manure application can result in less nitrate leaching than UAN (e.g., 29 vs. 36 kg N/ha), and that spring application reduces nitrate leaching compared to fall application (e.g., 29 vs. 37 kg N/ha). The regression equations improve our understanding of nitrate leaching; offer a simple method to quantify potential N losses from Midwestern corn-soybean rotations under the climate, soil, and management conditions of the Nashua field experiment; and are a step toward development of easy to use N management tools.     

厦门市2001-2002年PM10浓度时间序列变化分析

在厦门市环境大气污染物中，PM10是其首要的大气污染物。厦门市大气中的日PM10浓度受天气和气候以及土地利用类型、地表植被覆盖度等诸多因素的共同影响而呈现出一定的周期性，应用时间序列方法对厦门市2001～2002年的PM10浓度进行周期性和趋势性的分析，揭示了厦门市大气环境中PM10浓随时间变化的周期性规律。同时讨论了部分气候因素对PM10浓度年内变化的影响。