Content Of Main Components Research Articles

Phase composition and microstructure of intermetallic alloys obtained using electron-beam additive manufacturing

The paper investigates the microstructure and phase composition of nickel- and aluminum-based intermetallic alloys obtained using two-wire electron-beam additive manufacturing (EBAM). Relevance of the research is related to the widespread use of intermetallic alloys based on nickel and aluminum (mainly Ni3Al) in various high-temperature applications and the need to use modern production methods when creating machine parts and mechanisms from these alloys. Using EBAM, the billets from intermetallic alloys with different ratios of the content of main components were obtained. Change in concentrations of the basic elements was carried out varying the ratio of feed rates of nickel and aluminum wires during additive manufacturing in the range from 1:1 to 3:1, respectively. The results of microscopic studies of the obtained alloys showed that, regardless of nickel content, the obtained alloys are characterized by a large–crystalline structure with grain sizes in the range of 100 – 300 μm for alloys with a component ratio of 1:1 and 150 – 400 μm for alloys with a component ratio of 2:1 and 3:1. At the same time, the alloy with an equal content of base components is characterized by more uniform grain and microstructure compared to those with high content of Ni. By changing the concentration ratio of the components, phase composition of the resulting billet can be purposefully controlled. In the case of an “equiatomic” content of the base components in the alloy, a NiAl-based compound with a small phase content based on the intermetallides Ni3Al5 and Ni3Al is formed. At high concent­rations of nickel, the intermetallic Ni3Al phase is formed, and at a component ratio of 3:1, structure of the resulting billet consists mainly of Ni3Al phase and the γ solid substitutional solution based on nickel. The paper demonstrates the possibility of direct production of intermetallic alloys with a given phase composition during electron-beam additive manufacturing.

Rapid Antidepressant-Like Potential of Chaihu Shugan San Depends on Suppressing Glutamate Neurotransmission and Activating Synaptic Proteins in Hippocampus of Female Mice.

To explore the rapid antidepressant potential and the underlying mechanism of Chaihu Shugan San (CSS) in female mice. Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS)/MS was used to determine the content of main components in CSS to determine its stability. Female C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into 4 groups, including control (saline), vehicle (saline), CSS (4 g/kg) and ketamine (30 mg/kg) groups. Mice were subjected to irregular stress stimulation for 4 weeks to establish the chronic mild stress (CMS) model, then received a single administration of drugs. Two hours later, the behavioral tests were performed, including open field test, tail suspension test (TST), forced swimming test (FST), novelty suppression feeding test (NSF), and sucrose preference test (SPT). Western blot analysis was used to detect the expression levels of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA) subtypes [N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 1 (NR1), NR2A, NR2B], synaptic proteins [synapsin1 and post synaptic density protein 95 (PSD95)], and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Moreover, the rapid antidepressant effect of CSS was tested by pharmacological technologies and optogenetic interventions that activated glutamate receptors, NMDA. Compared with the vehicle group, a single administration of CSS (4 g/kg) reversed all behavioral defects in TST, FST, SPT and NSF caused by CMS (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CSS also significantly decreased the expressions of NMDA subtypes (NR1, NR2A, NR2B) at 2 h in hippocampus of mice (all P<0.01). In addition, similar to ketamine, CSS increased levels of synaptic proteins and BDNF (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Furthermore, the rapid antidepressant effects of CSS were blocked by transient activation of NMDA receptors in the hippocampus (all P<0.01). Rapid antidepressant effects of CSS by improving behavioral deficits in female CMS mice depended on rapid suppression of NMDA receptors and activation of synaptic proteins.

Refined waxy product from the residues of pyrethrins processing: contents, compositions and skin-whitening effects

Pyrethrins is one of the most important botanical insecticides. In recent years, due to the demand for pyrethrins, factories use dried flowers of cultivated pyrethrum as raw materials to produce pyrethrin. During this process, a large amount of wax is produced. In order to avoid resource waste and environmental pollution, better development and utilization of pyrethrum wax is required. Therefore, in this study, refined pyrethrum wax unsaponifiables (RPWU) were prepared from pyrethrum wax wastes by silica gel column chromatography and saponification. The compositions and contents of main components in the RPWU were studied by GC and GC-MS. RPWU contained rich long-chain fatty alcohols, in which eicosanol, docosanol, tetracosanol and hexacosanol were the main components, accounting for 71.3%. In addition, it contained a small amount of odd carbon long-chain fatty alcohols (tricosanol and pentacosanol), accounting for 7.5%, which is very rare in plants. Meanwhile, RPWU showed inhibitory effect on tyrosinase, suggesting that RPWU could have skin-whitening effect. Therefore, RPWU obtained from pyrethrum wax waste has potential bioavailability value, which will promote the development and utilization of pyrethrum wax waste.

Sucrose-tannin-nanosilica hybrid bio-adhesive based on dual dynamic Schiff base and disulfide bonds with enhanced toughness and cohesion

Herein, a high-performance sucrose-tannin bio-based adhesive is developed based on consisting of oxidized sucrose (OS), tannin acid (TA), SiO2 nanoparticles and 2,2′-disulfanediylbis (ethan-1-amine) (DBA) by a facile chemical cross-linking strategy. The OS-TA and OS-TA@SiO2 bio-based adhesives are characterized by XPS, FTIR, and 13C NMR, while the bonding performance is also investigated using shear strength test. Results show that the optimal formulation of OS-TA bio-based adhesive is a 2:1:1 mass ratio for OS: TA: DBA. When the mass fraction of SiO2 is 15 % and the solid content of main components is 50 %, the OS-TA@SiO2 bio-based adhesive has excellent bonding strength. Relative to OS-TA, the wet bonding strength of the OS-TA@SiO2 enhanced from 1.16 MPa to 1.85 MPa, while the dry bonding strength improved from 1.90 MPa to 2.50 MPa. The wood failure rate of the plywood fabricated by using the OS-TA@SiO2 bio-based adhesive reaches 80 %. Therefore, relying on the high flexibility of dynamic disulfide bonds, adding SiO2 nanoparticles into the adhesive system can facilitate greatly the mechanical interlocking effect and make the chemical cross-linking network more compact through the synergistic chemical interactions. This work provides new insights into producing green and renewable bio-based wood adhesives using sucrose and tannin.

Hot water washing processing technology of Euodiae Fructus based on change laws of active components and tastes

In order to establish the standardized processing technology of the hot water washing of Euodiae Fructus, this study, based on the traditional processing method of hot water washing of Euodiae Fructus recorded in ancient works and modern processing specifications of traditional Chinese medicine decoction pieces, took the yield of decoction pieces and the content of main components as the indicators and optimized the processing conditions by orthogonal test based on the results of single factor investigation. At the same time, electronic tongue technology was used to analyze the change law of the taste index of Euodiae Fructus during the hot water washing. The results of the single factor investigation showed that the content of the main components in Euodiae Fructus showed some regular changes during the processing. Specifically, the content of chlorogenic acid, hyperin, isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside, isorhamnetin-3-O-galactoside, and dehydroevodiamine decreased significantly, with average decreases of-23.75%,-27.80%,-14.04%,-14.03%, and-13.11%, respectively. The content of limonin increased significantly with an average increase of 19.83%. The content of evodiamine, rutaecarpine, evocarpine, and dihydroevocarpine showed fluctuating changes and generally increased, with average variation amplitudes of 0.54%,-3.78%, 2.69%, and 5.13%, respectively. The orthogonal test results showed that the optimum processing parameters for the hot water washing of Euodiae Fructus were as follows: washing time of 2 min, the solid-to-liquid ratio of 1∶10 g·mL~(-1), washing temperature of 80 ℃, washing once, and drying at 50 ℃. After the hot water washing processing, the average yield of Euodiae Fructus pieces was 94.80%. The content of limonin, evodiamine, and rutaecarpine was higher than those of raw pro-ducts, and the average transfer rates were 102.56%, 103.15%, and 105.16%, respectively. The content of dehydroevodiamine was lower than that of the raw products, and the average transfer rate was 83.04%. The results of taste analysis showed that the hot water washing could significantly reduce the salty, astringent, and bitter tastes of Euodiae Fructus. This study revealed the influence of the hot water washing on the content of main components and taste of Euodiae Fructus, and the processing technology of the hot water was-hing of Euodiae Fructus established in this study was stable, feasible, and suitable for industrial production, which laid a foundation for clarifying its processing principle and improving the quality standard and clinical application value of decoction pieces.

Mechanism research on early detection of insect pests inside the wheat using micro-computed tomography

ABSTRACT The use of Micro-CT imaging technology for accurately identifying the developmental stages of pests, such as eggs and pupae, hidden in grains is of great importance for the early prevention and treatment of stored-grain insects. In this study, we analysed the density, content of main components, and grey value of Micro-CT images of grains infected by Sitophilus oryzae at five stages, including the egg and pupal stages. The results showed that a strong linear correlation between the density and main component content, as well as between the grey value of Micro-CT images and density, with a linear correlation coefficient of R = 0.988. These correlations demonstrated how variations in main component content due to pest infection led to changes in both density and grey value of Micro-CT images. By quantifying changes in grey value, Micro-CT images provided an intuitive and clear representation of the developmental stages of wheat grain and S. oryzae, offering a theoretical foundation for early detection of pest infestations in wheat using Micro-CT imaging.

Systematic identification of chemical forms of key terpene synthase in Cinnamomum camphora

Cinnamomum camphora is an important economic tree species in China. According to the type and content of main components in the volatile oil of leaf, C. camphora were divided into five chemotypes, including borneol-type, camphor-type, linalool-type, cineole-type, and nerolidol-type. Terpene synthase(TPS) is the key enzyme for the formation of these compounds. Although several key enzyme genes have been identified, the biosynthetic pathway of(+)-borneol, which has the most economic value, has not been reported. In this study, nine terpenoid synthase genes CcTPS1-CcTPS9 were cloned through transcriptome analysis of four chemical-type leaves. After the recombinant protein was induced by Escherichia coli, geranyl pyrophosphate(GPP) and farnesyl pyrophosphate(FPP) were used as substrates for enzymatic reaction, respectively. Both CcTPS1 and CcTPS9 could catalyze GPP to produce bornyl pyrophosphate, which could be hydrolyzed by phosphohydrolase to obtain(+)-borneol, and the product of(+)-borneol accounted for 0.4% and 89.3%, respectively. Both CcTPS3 and CcTPS6 could catalyze GPP to generate a single product linalool, and CcTPS6 could also react with FPP to generate nerolidol. CcTPS8 reacted with GPP to produce 1,8-cineol(30.71%). Nine terpene synthases produced 9 monoterpene and 6 sesquiterpenes. The study has identified the key enzyme genes responsible for borneol biosynthesis in C. camphora for the first time, laying a foundation for further elucidating the molecular mechanism of chemical type formation and cultivating new varieties of borneol with high yield by using bioengineering technology.

Mongolian medicine Wenguanmu ointment treats eczema by inhibiting the CKLF-1/NF-κB pathway

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThe main clinical manifestations of eczema include itching, erythema, swelling and pain. Currently, allergies and TH1/TH2 cytokine imbalances are significant causes of eczema. TCM believes that eczema is mainly caused by incongruity between dry and wet. Wenguanmu ointment is a classic Mongolian medicine, which mainly composed of Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge, Coptis chinensis Franch and Bezoar. These ingredients can clear heat and dampness, dispel wind and dehumidification, anti-inflammatoryad analgesic. In this study, it was found that Wenguanmu ointment can treat eczema with anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipruritic. Aim of the studyIn this study, the content of main components in Wenguanmu ointment was tested. Moreover, the therapeutic effect and mechanism of Wenguanmu ointment on eczema model mice were studied. Materials and methodsKunming mice (25 ± 2 g) were randomly divided into 6 groups: Control group; Model group; Vehicle group; Wenguanmu ointment group; Compound dexamethasone acetate cream group; Chushizhiyang ointment group. The eczema mouse model was established by DNCB. HPLC and TLC tests were used to determine the content of the main components in Wenguanmu ointment. HE staining was used to assess skin damage in mice. In order to detect the anti-inflammatory effect of Wenguanmu ointment on eczema, The levels of IgE, TNF-α, IFN-γ, COX-2 and IL-4 in serum was measured by ELISA. Genecards and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man databases were used to analyze potential target gene predictions, and it was speculated that Wenguanmu ointment was associated with NF−κB signaling pathway and chemokine signaling pathway. To detect this inference, RT-qPCR and western blotting were used to detect protein and mRNA levels of CKLF-1, IκB-α, and NF-κB. ResultsWenguanmu ointment can repress the symptoms of eczema caused by 2, 4-dinitrochlorobenzene, and inhibit the level of serum immunoglobulin E. Simultaneously it restrain the elevation of miscellaneous pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, as well as reducing the expression of CKLF-1 and NF-κB protein in the nucleus, and increasing the protein expression of IκB to improve eczema. ConclusionsThe ameliorating effect of Wenguanmu ointment on eczema lesions can play a importment role by inhibiting the CKLF-1/NF-κB pathway.

The Study of Potentially Lignocellulolytic Actinobacteria Pseudonocardia sp. AI2.

The search for microorganisms with potential for bioconversion of lignocellulose is now of immediate interest. Industrial waste is a source of various microorganisms. This paper describes results of the research of potentially lignocellulolytic actinobacteria isolated from activated sludge of the wastewater treatment plant of a pulp and paper mill located in Komi Republic (Russia). One strain of actinobacteria, AI2, was found to be sufficiently active in terms of degradation of lignocellulose-containing materials. Testing of the AI2 isolate demonstrated its ability to synthesize cellulase, dehydrogenase and protease to various extents. The AI2 strain was found capable of biosynthesizing cellulase to 5.5 U/ml. In case of solid-phase fermentation using treated softwood and hardwood sawdust, the content of main components changed most significantly in aspen sawdust: from initial concentration of 20.4% down to 15.6% for lignin, and from 50.6% down to 31.8% for cellulose. In case of liquid-phase fermentation, the content of lignin components decreased significantly in the treated aqueous medium that contained lignosulfonates: from initial concentration of 3.6 g down to 2.1g. Taxonomic study of the AI2 strain of actinobacteria confirmed that it belongs to the rare Pseudonocardia genus of actinomycetes. Based on the results of 16S rRNA sequencing, the AI2 strain is most similar to the species Pseudonocardia carboxydivorans.

Therapeutic effect of Baimai Ointment on peripheral sensitization of chronic inflammatory pain in mice

Chronic inflammatory pain is mainly manifested by peripheral sensitization. Baimai Ointment(BMO), a classical Tibetan medicine for external use, has good clinical efficacy in the treatment of chronic inflammatory pain, while its pharmacodynamics and mechanism for relieving peripheral sensitization remain unclear. This study established an animal model of chronic inflammatory pain induced by complete Freund's adjuvant to explore the mechanism of BMO in the treatment of chronic inflammatory pain by behavioral test, side effect assessment, network analysis, and experimental verification. The pharmacodynamics experiment showed that BMO increased the thresholds of mechanical pain sensitivity and thermal radiation pain sensitivity of chronic inflammatory pain mice in a dose-dependent manner, and had inhibitory effect on foot swelling, inflammatory mediator, and the expression of transient receptor potential vanilloid-1(TRPV1) and transient receptor potential A1(TRPA1). The results of body weight monitoring, pain sensitivity threshold detection in normal mice, rotarod performance test, and forced swimming test showed that BMO had no obvious toxic or side effect. The network analysis of 51 candidate active molecules selected according to the efficacy of BMO, content of main components, and ADME parameters showed that the inhibitory effect of BMO on chronic inflammatory pain was associated with the core regulatory elements of tumor necrosis factor(TNF) and T cell receptor signaling pathways. BMO down-regulated the protein levels of mitogen-activated protein kinase 14(MAPK14), MAPK1, and prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2(PTGS2), and up-regulated the phosphorylation le-vel of glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta(GSK3 B) in the plantar tissue of mice. In conclusion, BMO can effectively relieve peripheral sensitization of chronic inflammatory pain without inducing tolerance and obvious toxic and side effects. The relevant mechanism may be related to the regulation of BMO on core regulatory elements of TNF and T cell receptor signaling pathways in surrounding tissues.

Comparison of chemical composition and activities of essential oils from fresh leaves of Pelargonium graveolens L′Herit. extracted by hydrodistillation and enzymatic pretreatment combined with a solvent-free microwave extraction method

In this study, enzymatic pretreatment combined with solvent-free microwave extraction (EP-SFME) was used to extract essential oils from fresh leaves of Pelargonium graveolens L′Herit. The effects of hydrodistillation and enzymatic pretreatment combined with solvent-free microwave extraction on the yield and quality of essential oils were compared. The essential oil yield from the EP-SFME method (0.29% ± 0.04%) was 26.09% higher than that from the conventional hydrodistillation method. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis results showed that the content of main components in the essential oil from the EP-SFME method was significantly increased, including citronellol (+8.60%), geraniol (+3.14%), citronellyl formate (+2.77%), and geranic acid (+1.54%). The content of oxygenated compounds was also far higher than that of the hydrodistillation method. The essential oil from the EP-SFME method showed stronger antidepressant potential, as determined by the inhibition rate of acetylcholinesterase (IC50 =73.3 µg/mL). In contrast, the essential oil from the EP-SFME method showed higher comprehensive antimicrobial activity, including Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Candida albicans, and antioxidant activity than that from the hydrodistillation method. Therefore, the EP-SFME method is a green and effective method for the extraction of high-quality essential oils from fresh leaves of Pelargonium graveolens L′Herit.

Process Optimization for Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extraction of Origanum vulgare L. Essential Oil Based on the Yield, Carvacrol, and Thymol Contents.

Origanum vulgare L. essential oil (OEO) is widely known for its good biological activity, but different extraction methods with significant implications on the yield of OEO and the content of the thymol and carvacrol. As an efficient method for extracting essential oils (EO), the supercritical carbon dioxide extraction (SC-CO2) can improve the yield of EOs while protecting their main active components from loss. In this study, the process optimization of SC-CO2 of OEO was carried out. The effects of extraction pressure, temperature, time, and modifier concentration on the composite score of OEO extraction process were investigated. Response surface analysis was performed using a Box-Behnken design with three levels and four independent variables. Steam distillation (SD) and lipophilic solvents (n-hexane) extraction (LSE) were compared with SC-CO2 for OEO yields. OEOs extracted by the three methods were qualitatively and semi-quantitatively analyzed by gas chromatography quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-flame ionization detector. The results showed that extraction pressure was the most significant factor affecting the OEO yield, thymol, and carvacrol content. In the optimal conditions (pressure: 217 bar, temperature: 54°C, time: 2 h, modifier concentration: 14%), the yield of OEO reached up to 1.136%, and the contents of thymol and carvacrol reached 53.172 and 41.785 mg/g, respectively. SC-CO2 was the best extraction method compared to the other two methods. Under the optimal conditions, yield and the content of main components can be effectively improved. It can provide a theoretical basis for the industrial extraction of OEO. Taking the comprehensive score as the index, the interaction between the four independent variables in the supercritical fluid extraction process was evaluated by the response surface method. The effects of extraction parameters on the yield of EOs and the contents of thymol and carvacrol were comprehensively investigated.

Effect of Extraction Method on Yield, Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oil from the Fruits of Amomum villosum var. xanthioides

In this study, the essential oils obtained from the fruits of Amomum villosum var. xanthioides by three different extraction methods (hydrodistillation, steam distillation, and microwave-assisted hydrodistillation) were reported for their yield, chemical composition and antimicrobial activity. The oils obtained were analysed using gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Furthermore, the antimicrobial activity of essential oils was evaluated using a microdilution broth assay. The results revealed that the microwave-assisted hydrodistillation produced 2.02% (w/w) yield of oil compared to 1.77% from hydrodistillation and 1.50% from steam distillation. There were significant differences in the content of main components in the essential oils obtained from the different extraction methods. Overall, bornyl acetate (30.01% - 38.18%), camphor (17.53% - 20.91%), borneol (9.21% - 14.68%), D-limonene (6.61% - 9.67%), camphene (4.14% - 8.51%), and β-myrcene (3.85% - 5.16%) were the main components in all the oil samples. The highest amounts of borneol, bornyl acetate, and camphor were obtained from the microwave-assisted hydrodistilled oil. In addition, the essential oil samples were tested for antimicrobial activity and were shown to inhibit the growth of Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging from 100 to 200 μg/mL, and the microwave-assisted hydrodistilled oil exhibited higher antimicrobial activity. In summary, this research revealed that microwave-assisted hydrodistillation is an outstanding method of extracting essential oils from the fruits of A. villosum var. xanthioides.

Purification of Industrial Copper Electrolyte from Bismuth Impurity

This work focused on purifying copper electrolytes from a bismuth impurity on a laboratory scale. The electrolyte came from Polish copper electrorefineries with the content of main components, g/dm3: 49.6 Cu, 160 H2SO4. The electrolyte was enriched in bismuth by Bi2O3 addition. Purification of bismuth contamination was carried out using selected agents with adsorbing effects, such as barium hydroxide octahydrate, strontium carbonate, barium carbonate, barium and lead sulfates. The trials were performed until achieving the Bi level—below 0.1 g/dm3. During the experiments, it was noticed that electrolyte purification degree depends on initial Bi concentration in electrolyte, time and temperature, as well as on the type and amount of the bismuth-lowering agent. The most satisfactory results of Bi impurity removal were with additions of barium hydroxide octahydrate, strontium carbonate and barium carbonate to electrolyte at 60 °C for 1 h. These parameters revealed the highest electrolyte purification degree. Bismuth is not removed effectively from electrolytes by barium sulfate or lead sulfate addition. The efficiency of the purification process is much higher when the agents are added to the solution in the form of carbonates or hydroxides. Extending the electrolyte purification process time may cause dissolution of bismuth from the resulting precipitate and increase of bismuth concentration in electrolytes.

Influence of goat colostrum and mature milk on intestinal microbiota

In this study, we compared the content of main components in goat colostrum and mature milk, and evaluated their influences on the intestinal microbiota to establish the correlations between milk components and functional features of the intestinal microbiota. Compared with goat mature milk, colostrum had significantly higher contents of protein, fat, minerals, dry matter, EGF, IGF-I, LTF and IgG, but lower concentrations of lactose and cAMP. The metagenomic analysis indicated that ingestion of mature milk increased the abundance of probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus and Muribaculum, while goat colostrum intake could promote the growth of probiotics Lactobacillus and Alistipes, but also the pathogen Helicobacter. Fat content was positively associated with the abundance of Helicobacter. Our study provided evidence that goat colostrum and mature milk could change the composition and structure of the intestinal microbiota community in different ways, which might drive the downstream effects on the host’s metabolism and health.

Composition Characteristic of Turquoise from Mongolia

The turquoise from Mongolia is rich in colour, ranging from blue to green. To enrich the study on the composition of turquoise from Mongolia, this study determined the contents of main components, trace elements, and rare earth elements(REE) by electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) and laser ablation plasma mass spectrometer (LA-ICP-MS). The content of Al2O3, P2O5, CuO and TFeO were 35.22%-36.73%, 34.34%-35.84%, 8.27%-9.24% and 2.20%-3.76% respectively. The TFeO / CuO ratio of the sample increased with the colour change from blue to green. As the increase of Fe3+ content, the green hue of the sample increases. The content of As was as high as 1 453.9-1 760.3 mg/kg. The EDS scanning showed that As was uniform distributed in the sample substrate. The contents of Sr, Ba, and Pb in the samples were higher than those in Anhui, Shaanxi, and Hubei provinces. The U content was similar to that in turquoise samples from Ma'anshan and Ankang of Anhui Province, and lower than that in Yunyang district and Zhushan area of Hubei Province. There were two different patterns of REE distribution, one was right inclined, and the heavy and light rare earth were differentiated, and Eu loss was not obvious; the other was rich in medium rare earth, and the difference between light and heavy rare earth was relatively insignificant, and Eu showed positive anomaly. According to the difference of distribution curves, it was inferred that there were two stages of mineralization of turquoise, low temperature hydrothermal metasomatism and weathering leaching. The rare earth content of the former was higher than that of the latter, and the light rare earth was enriched, while the latter was lost, but the contents of medium rare earth and heavy rare earth were consistent with the former. The author studied and determined the composition characteristics of turquoise in this area and infers the genesis of turquoise and provided the basis for distinguishing the origin of turquoise from Mongolia.

Functional comparison of breast milk, cow milk and goat milk based on changes in the intestinal flora of mice

Milk from various species differs in their main components. In this study, we analyzed the content of main components in breast milk, cow milk and goat milk, and evaluated their impacts on the intestinal microbiota in mice using the high-throughput sequencing of 16 S rRNA genes. Several significant differences in the nutrient components were observed between different milk types and these differences could alter the composition and functional feature of intestinal microbiota in mice. Microbial diversity analysis indicated that the composition of intestinal microbiota differed between breast milk, cow milk, goat milk and control groups. The metagenomic analysis showed that relative abundance of Alloprevotella and Bifidobacterium significantly increased in breast milk group, while Allobaculum and Akkermansia were significantly enriched in cow milk group and goat milk group, respectively (P＜0.001). We also found that protein, minerals and total amino acids of milk were positively correlated with Akkermansia and negatively correlated with Alloprevotella, Bifidobacterium. These suggest that breast milk, cow milk and goat milk enter the intestine with enough variation between types of milk and differentially modify the intestinal microbiota, which may positively affect the physiological function of the microbiota.

Comprehensive Analysis of the Components of Walnut Kernel (Juglans regia L.) in China

The contents of main components in 45 walnut kernels from 5 walnut-planting provinces in China (Yunnan, Shaanxi, Shandong, Hebei, and Sichuan) were determined using colorimetry, high-performance liquid chromatography, and gas chromatography, including flavonoids, vitamin E, trace elements, fatty acids, and amino acids. The levels of flavonoids and vitamin E were higher in walnuts from Yunnan than in walnuts from the other four provinces. The levels of zinc and iron were relatively higher in walnuts from Shandong, and the calcium content in walnuts from Yunnan was much lower. No obvious difference was found in crude fat concentration for nuts from the five provinces, but differences were observed in the crude protein content. Oleic acid was the predominant unsaturated fatty acids in all walnut species; the monounsaturated fatty acid content was the highest in walnuts from Yunnan. The data obtained here provided insight into differences in walnuts resulting from different growing environments and germplasm genetic traits.

Study on quality identification of Curcumae Rhizoma from different origins based on quantitative analysis of appearance color and content of main components

L~*, a~* and b~* values of prepared slices of Curcumae Rhizoma were measured by spectrophotometer. SPSS 21.0 was used for discriminant analysis to establish the color range and mathematical prediction model of prepared slices of Curcumae Rhizoma. The values of L~*, a~* and b~* of kwangsiensis ranged from 58.09-62.40, 4.53-5.66 and 23.61-24.29, while the values of L~*, a~* and b~* of phaeocaulis were between 64.02-70.71,-0.89-4.13 and 44.59-54.52, respectively. The values of L~*, a~* and b~* of wenyujin were 68.55-70.99,-0.11-1.47 and 28.26-32.19, respectively. The mathematical prediction model was proved to be able to realize 100% identification of Curcumae Rhizome of different origins through original and cross validation and external samples validation. A dual wavelength HPLC was established; the contents of 9 sesquiterpenoids and 3 Curcumae Rhizomes were determined simultaneously; and the contents of Curcumae Rhizome of different origins were determined. The results showed that kwangsiensis had higher contents of neocurdione, β-elemene and isocurcumaenol, phaeocaulis curcumin, furadienone, demethoxycurcumin and curcumin; and wenyujin mainly contained curdione, furadienes and guimarone. Pearson correlation analysis on L~*, a~*, b~* value and content of 12 components showed that curcumin, furadienone, demethoxycurcumin and curcumin had a significant positive correlation with b~* value(P&lt;0.01). There was a significant negative correlation between neocurdione, β-elemene and isocurcumaenol and L~* value(P&lt;0.01). Curdione, furadienes and guimarone were significantly correlated with L~* value(P&lt;0.01),indicating that the appearance co-lor of Curcumae Rhizoma could reflect the change of the content of the internal components. This study provided reference for the rapid recognition of Curcumae Rhizoma and the establishment of quality evaluation system.

Moldavian balm (Dracocephalum moldavica L.) essential oil content and composition as affected by sustainable weed management treatments

In sustainable production of medicinal and aromatic plants, reduction in herbicide application rate and using straw mulch could be used as strategies for integrated weed management. The field study was carried out to evaluate the effects of herbicides reduced rate integrated with straw mulch on sustainable weed management, essential oil (EO) content and composition of Moldavian balm (Dracocephalum moldavica L.). The experiment was done in Agricultural Research Station of University of Tabriz, Iran, from April 2016 to July 2017. The treatments were consisted of two herbicide rates including recommended rate (R) and reduced rate (50 % R) of trifluralin and pendimethalin, integration of all herbicide treatments with mulch application (5 t ha−1) and mulch application alone. The effect of weed management treatment was significant on weed density and biomass and Moldavian balm dry weight and EO yield. Among the weed management treatments, the lowest weed biomass (17.1 g m-2) and the highest EO yield (22.51 kg ha−1) were observed in trifluralin R + mulch (TR + M) treatment. Integration of all herbicide treatments with straw mulch reduced the weed density and biomass and increased the Moldavian balm dry weight and EO yield, significantly. Generally the weed control efficacy of trifluralin was higher than that of pendimethalin. Gas chromatography - mass spectrometry analysis showed that the main constitutes of EO were geraniol, geranial, geranyl acetate, neral, nerol and neryl acetate. The contents of main components were influenced by weed management treatments, differently. The highest content of geraniol (41.4 %) and geranial (24.7 %) were obtained in TR + M and pendimethalin R + mulch (PR + M) treatments, respectively. Integration of all herbicide treatments with straw mulch increased the geraniol content and reduced the geranyl acetate content in EO. The weed density and biomass and Moldavian balm EO yield in trifluralin 50 % R + mulch (T50R + M) treatment were not significantly different with those in trifluralin R (TR). Therefore TR treatment could be replaced with T50R + M and recommended to medicinal plants growers as a more sustainable weed management method in Moldavian balm production.