DP Values Research Articles

Rheological and colour properties of apple jellies supplemented with inulin with various degrees of polymerisation

SummaryThe objective of this study was to analyse the influence of inulin with different degrees of polymerisation (DP values) and oligofructose preparation on physicochemical and rheological properties of apple jelly. It has been determined that both the addition of inulin (independently of DP) and oligofructose significantly modify the rheological and textural properties of the analysed desserts. Preparation with high DP results in increased moduli, preparation with moderate levels results in their decrease, while preparation with low DP levels initially decreases and then increases the values of both moduli. Similar tendencies are exhibited by the remaining parameters of rheological characteristics. Supplementation with inulin and oligofructose influences, but not as markedly, physicochemical properties. It has been observed that the manner in which water is bound by the applied preparations may have a significant impact on the properties of jelly. In the majority of cases, the variability of the parameters, for which statistically significant differences have been determined, depended on the type and level of the additive, and this impact varied between individual preparation types. The study conducted has enabled the conclusion that inulin may pose an attractive ingredient in desserts with health‐promoting properties.

Evaluation of mechanical condition of transformer paper insulation after factory drying

Viscometric Degree of Polymerization (DPv or DP for short) is a well-established method used in the transformer industry to track degradation of the paper insulation used inside transformers. The DP method works well for both new, unprocessed paper, and for aged paper. But in recent years it has become an established fact that there are unclear issues related to measurements of DP on new paper after factory drying. This phenomenon has been observed for different paper types, paper dried using different drying methods, different types of pulp and measurements made at different laboratories. Cigre has recently published a reference paper on the subject [1], written by experts from different transformer manufacturers, paper manufacturers, independent laboratories and utilities. It is further noted in Cigre brochure 738 (WG D1.53) that at times, new paper after factory drying does not dissolve well in the Cuen solution used for DP measurement. This difficulty introduces tremendous uncertainties in the average DP numbers reported by laboratories for such papers. In this article we seek to shed some light on this problem and its effect on reported DP values.

Состояние показателей ангио-ОКТ макулярной зоны у беременных женщин с преэклампсией во взаимосвязи с содержанием фактора эндотелиальной дисфункции, их значение для прогнозирования сосудистой ретинальной патологии в постродовом периоде

«Российская офтальмология онлайн» - электронное информационное издание, создается с 1 марта 2010 года под эгидой Российского общества офтальмологов. Основная задача проекта - научно-информационная поддержка специалистов в области офтальмологии.

Micromagnetic simulation of magnetofossils with realistic size and shape distributions: Linking magnetic proxies with nanoscale observations and implications for magnetofossil identification

We build micromagnetic models to investigate the magnetic properties of biogenic magnetite – a common type of magnetic mineral that is responsible for recording a wide range of biological, geophysical and geological processes on earth. The geometry of modelled particles is based on realistic size and shape distributions from nanoscale observations. Systematic changes in microstructures of biogenic magnetite ensembles are built and their magnetic properties are calculated, which enables a quantitative and separate assessment of the effect of crystal morphology and chain structures. Although the same particle size and shape distributions are used in all calculations, simulation results document large variations in magnetic properties, i.e., wide distributions of coercivity (Bc=∼10–60 mT), coercivity of remanence (Bcr=∼14–81 mT), dispersion parameter (DP=∼0.1–0.5), and skewness values (S=∼0.7–1.1) due to variable degree of anisotropy and magnetostatic interactions. Previously, the commonly observed “biogenic soft” and “biogenic hard” components on biogenic magnetite-bearing samples were often interpreted to reflect crystal morphologies, and that the small DP values of coercivity distributions were an indication of narrow particle size distributions. Our simulations suggest that these speculations are not always the case and that magnetosome microstructures likely exert a dominant control over their magnetic properties. Our modelling results provide a new theoretical perspective on the magnetic properties of biogenic magnetite, which is important for understanding magnetic proxy signals from magnetofossils in a wide range of environmental and geological settings, and for the search for biogenic magnetite in terrestrial rocks and in extra-terrestrial materials.

Effects of pretreatment applied to sugarcane bagasse on composition and morphology of cellulosic fractions

Due to the growing demand for renewable energy, the energy based on biomass plays an important role in energy policies of countries all over the world. Seven different pretreatments were performed on SCB to obtain yields, chemical composition, particle sizes and crystallinity indexes. The tools used to study the effects of pretreatments on SCB were X-ray diffraction (change in crystalline and amorphous regions) and SEM images. The application of microwave-assisted irradiation allowed the obtaining of the lowest cellulose removal with the fractions PT-6 and PT-7. FTIR spectra showed the removal of hemicellulose and lignin content during pretreatments. DP values decreased significantly suggesting higher digestibility of the seven cellulosic fractions by cellulolytic enzymes. In the present work, the presence of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin structures in the sample of sugarcane bagasse and cellulosic fractions were indicated by the characteristic absorption bands (cm−1) of groups shown by the FTIR spectrum for hemicellulose and lignin. SEM images showed extensive degradation of the buddle of fibers of some cellulosic fractions. Mass loss (ML) obtained with SCB and cellulosic fractions were much greater under O2 atmosphere than under N2 atmosphere. The most relevant novelty of the present research was the use of chemical and physical methodologies to characterize sugarcane bagasse and their cellulosic fractions. The objective of this work was to determine the chemical composition and physical characteristics such as particle sizes as well as the removal of components resulting from seven different pretreatments. Nevertheless, future work is greatly required for improvement in this area.

Influence of heating source on the migration of photoinitiators from packaging materials into Tenax® and popcorn

Abstract The migration behaviors of the photoinitiators (PIs) benzophenone (BP), 4-methyl benzophenone (4-MBP), 2-methyl-4′-(methylthio)-2-morpholinopropiophenone (Irgacure 907), and 2-ethylhexyl-4-(-dimethylamino) benzoate (EHA) from coated paper to the dry food simulant Tenax® was quantified by UPLC-MS/MS. The migration of the PIs to the food simulant were: BP > MBP > EHA > Irgacure 907 under both conventional and microwave heating. Microwave heating could accelerate the rate of migration of four photoinitiators compared to conventional heating in a short time. However, at migration equilibrium, the maximum migration of the PIs under microwave heating was lower than under conventional heating. Using the determined migration data, Crank monolayer migration models based on Fick's second law were established for the PIs. The partition coefficient (KPF) of each photoinitiator was negatively correlated with temperature, for both heating sources (conventional and microwave heating). The diffusion coefficients (Dp) were positively correlated with temperature under conventional heating. At higher temperature, the KPF values were smaller and the Dp values were large for each of the four PIs. All PIs were detected in the popcorn after microwave heating. These results showed that the heating method does impact food safety.

Overproduction of fungal endo-β-1,4-glucanase leads to characteristic lignocellulose modification for considerably enhanced biomass enzymatic saccharification and bioethanol production in transgenic rice straw

Genetic modification of plant cell walls has been considered to reduce lignocellulose recalcitrance for enhanced biomass enzymatic saccharification and biofuel production in bioenergy crops. Although endo-β-1,4-glucanase (EG II) secreted by fungi has been broadly applied for enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose, it remains to explore its role in cellulose modification when the EG II gene is overexpressed in plant. In this study, we selected transgenic rice plants that overproduced Trichoderma reesei EG II enzyme specifically deposited into plant cell walls, and then examined much higher enzymatic activities by fourfold to fivefold in transgenic young seedlings than those of wild type in vitro. Notably, despite slightly altered cell wall compositions and polymer interlinkages relative to the wild type, the transgenic mature rice straw exhibited significantly reduced cellulose DP and CrI values and hemicellulosic Xyl/Ara ratio, leading to much increased biomass porosity. These should play integrated impact for enhanced biomass enzymatic saccharification and bioethanol production even under mild alkali pretreatment. Therefore, the results suggested that the EG II deposition should have enzymatic activity specific for minor-modification of cellulose microfibrils in transgenic rice plants. It has also provided a potential strategy for mild cell wall modification and optimal biomass process in rice and other bioenergy crops.

Modeling the Ionic Strength Effect on Diffusion in Clay. The DR-A Experiment at Mont Terri

Author(s): Soler, JM; Steefel, CI; Gimmi, T; Leupin, OX; Cloet, V | Abstract: Solute diffusion in compacted clays depends on ionic strength through its control on the thickness of the electrical double layer (EDL) on the charged clay surfaces. In the DR-A field experiment (Mont Terri, Switzerland), synthetic porewater was circulated through a borehole for 189 days, leading to the out-diffusion of a variety of tracers into the Opalinus Clay. The borehole solution was then replaced with a higher-salinity solution for an additional 540 days, leading to the diffusion of Cs+, Ca2+, Mg2+, and Sr2+ back into the borehole and to an increase in the out-diffusion of anions (I-, Br-) and 3H. The experimental results were interpreted using the CrunchClay code, which includes a mean electrostatic potential model for the EDL. The EDL corresponds to a second continuum in addition to bulk electrically neutral porewater. Species-specific diffusion (Nernst-Planck equation) occurs through both domains. A 1D radial model considered a single pore diffusion coefficient (Dp = 10-9 m2/s) for cations and 3H in the bulk porosity, and a smaller Dp (3 × 10-10 m2/s) for anions. Dp values in the EDL were smaller (10-11 m2/s), except for Cs+ and K+ (5 × 10-10 and 2 × 10-10 m2/s, respectively). The model reproduced well the experimental results and showed the capability to consider temporal changes in geochemical conditions affecting the transport and retention of potentially important radionuclide contaminants (e.g., 137Cs+, 90Sr2+, 129I-) in underground geological nuclear waste repositories. Coupled multicomponent diffusion together with the electrostatic properties of the charged surfaces are essential in the development of predictive models for ion transport in clays.

RAPD Fingerprinting and Genetic Relationships of Some Wheat Genotypes

The genetic variability and relationships among 5 Egyptian wheat genotypes representing Sakha8, Sakha69, Sakha93, Sids1 and Gemmiza7 were analyzed using 8 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). A total of 77 loci (73 % polymorphic) in all 5 wheat genotypes was amplified and discriminated all the wheat genotypes. PIC, RP, MI, DP values were evaluated and revealed degree of genetic divergence among the cultivars used. A cluster based on UPGMA (Un-weighted Pair-Group Method with Arithmetic Mean) analysis was used to determine genetic similarities. The five wheat genotypes were divided into two main clusters. Cluster 1 was divided into two groups. In subgroup 1 were included genotype 1 and genotype 2. They seemed very close which might depict sharing of the genetic background among the genotypes. In consequence, the close genetic relationships are entirely alarming and may hinder further plant improvement. Genotype 5 was in subgroup 2. The second cluster was included genotype 3 and genotype 4. The same genotypes were also assessed in field conditions for structural analyses, which were carried out based on six yield components. The dendrogram created was comparatively analyzed with the RAPD dendrogram. This study additionally indicates that RAPD markers are useful for distinguishing and characterizing wheat cultivars. The genetic relatedness among these genotypes could provide useful information for conservation and selection of cross parents in breeding.

The study of diffusion kinetics of cinnamaldehyde from corn starch-based film into food simulant and physical properties of antibacterial polymer film

Corn starch-based films containing cinnamon essential oil were prepared. The physical properties of the films, and the diffusion kinetics of cinnamaldehyde were analyzed. The results showed that the antibacterial polymer film containing 2.0% (w/v) cinnamon essential oil had the acceptable physical properties with the tensile strength and the elongation at break of 22.53 ± 0.16 MPa and 20.07 ± 1.18%, respectively. The diffusion kinetics of cinnamaldehyde followed Fick's diffusion law. The diffusion percentage of cinnamaldehyde into 10% ethanol was lower than that of 95% ethanol. For short-term diffusion into 95% ethanol, the estimated n-values were between 0.1736 and 0.3519 and the diffusion coefficient (Dp) was increased with the increase of temperature. For long-term diffusion into 95% ethanol, the Dp values were decreased by 105–106 times in relative to short-term diffusion, and the partition coefficient (KP,F) was decreased with the increase of temperature. The antibacterial polymer film containing 2.0% cinnamon essential oil exhibited antibacterial activity for over 120 days.

Impact of land use and geological conditions on selected physical soil properties in relation to the earthworm abundance and biomass along an altitudinal gradient in Slovakia

Abstract The aim of the study was to analyse the impact of land use and altitudinal gradient including geological conditions on selected soil physical properties with subsequent effect on earthworms as important soil organisms. The research was conducted at three study sites (Očová – OC, Tajov – TA, Liptovská Teplička – LT) situated in the different climatic and natural conditions of Slovakia each with 3 plots differing in land use (arable land - AL, permanent grasslands – PG, forest land – FL). During 2014 over two periods, we measured soil penetration resistance (PR) with total depth of the measurement (DP) and soil moisture (SM). Earthworms were hand sorted counted and weighed. We found out high variability of measured parameters conditioned by time, space (altitudinal gradient) and land use. PR values of all measurements ranged from 0.19 to 5.00 MPa, DP values from 0.02 to 0.80 m and soil moisture from 2 to 50%. Paired samples test confirmed differences between different land use types mainly between AL and FL plots. There were confirmed significant differences between three ecological gradients in all observed properties with one exception. Correlations among observed variables under different altitudinal gradients and land use types were found. The earthworm density and biomass was significantly higher in permanent grasslands compared to forest and arable land. In arable land, the earthworm density and biomass negatively correlated with the penetration resistance and positively with the depth of the total measurements. In permanent grasslands earthworm biomass positively correlated with soil moisture.

Genetic Polymorphisms of 19 STR Loci in Populations of Three Culture Region in Shandong

To analyse the genetic polymorphisms of 19 autosomal STR loci in Han population of east, middle-northwest and southwest-south Shandong and to explore its genetic relationships among the population of these three regions. STR loci of 1 044 unrelated Han individuals in three Shandong regions were typed with a Goldeneye® DNA ID System 20A kit. The allele frequency and population genetics parameters of 19 autosomal STR loci were statistically analysed by Modified-Powerstates software. The genetic distances among the population in three regions were calculated by Arlequin v3.5 software. The phylogenetic tree was conducted using MEGA v4.0 software. Fifteen of 19 autosomal STR loci were detected with the H values greater than 0.7, PIC values greater than 0.7, and DP values greater than 0.9 in the populations of all three Shandong regions. Among the populations in these three regions, the genetic distance between the populations in middle-northwest and southwest-south Shandong was closest （Fst=0.000 16）, followed by east and southwest-south Shandong （Fst=0.0003 6）. The genetic distance between the populations in east and middle-northwest Shandong was the farthest （Fst=0.000 66, P<0.05）. The 19 autosomal STR loci show good genetic polymorphisms in Han population of three Shandong regions, and 15 of them are high. There are genetic differences between the populations in east and middle-northwest Shandong.

Assessment of different mathematical models for diffusion-weighted imaging as quantitative biomarkers for differentiating benign from malignant solid hepatic lesions.

To quantitatively compare the monoexponential, biexponential, and stretched‐exponential diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) models in differentiating benign from malignant solid hepatic lesions. The institutional review board approved this retrospective study and waived the informed consent requirement. A total of 188 patients with 288 hepatic lesions included 202 malignant lesions and 86 benign lesions were assessed (confirmed by pathology or clinical follow‐up for 6 months). All patients underwent hepatic 3.0‐T MRI, including multi‐b DWI that used 12 b values. The ADC, D p, D t, perfusion fraction (f p), α, and DDC values for normal liver, benign liver lesions, and malignant liver lesions were calculated. Independent sample t tests were used for comparisons. The diagnostic performance of the parameters was evaluated using ROC analysis. The AUC value for each model was also calculated. The value of D p was significantly lower in benign lesions than in normal hepatic parenchyma while others were significantly higher (P < .001). Whereas Values of D t and α in malignant hepatic lesions were significantly higher than in normal hepatic parenchyma (P < .001), and the D p value was significantly lower (P < .001). Values of ADC, f p, DDC, and α for malignant hepatic lesions were significantly lower than those for benign hepatic lesions (P < .001). ROC analysis showed that the diagnostic value of the biexponential model of normal hepatic parenchyma vs benign hepatic lesions and normal hepatic parenchyma vs malignant hepatic lesions was high (0.946 and 0.876, respectively). In the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant hepatic lesions, DDC had the highest AUC value (0.819). The biexponential and stretched‐exponential DWI may provide additional information and improve the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant hepatic lesions compared with the monoexponential DWI.

Dinámica poblacional de plantas y tallos de ballico perenne (Lolium perenne L.) solo y asociado con pasto ovillo (Dactylis glomerata L.) y trébol blanco (Trifolium repens L.)

El objetivo fue determinar la dinámica poblacional de plantas y tallos del ballico perenne (BP; Lolium perenne L.), solo y asociado con pasto ovillo (PO; Dactylis glomerata L.) y trébol blanco (TB; Trifolium repens L.). Ovinos de la raza Suffolk con Dorset se utilizaron solo como defoliadores. Los tratamientos fueron las proporciones: 100:00:00, 40:20:40, 50:00:50, 20:40:40, 70:20:10, 20:70:10 y 40:40:20% de BP, PO y TB, respectivamente. Se utilizó un diseño de bloques completos al azar con tres repeticiones. Se evaluó la densidad de plantas (DP), densidad de población (DPT), tasa de aparición (TAT), tasa de muerte (TMT) y tasa de sobrevivencia de tallos (TST). La mayor DP promedio en ballico perenne se presentó en otoño-invierno en la asociación 50:00:50 con 13 plantas m2, respectivamente (p &lt; 0.05). La DPT fue diferente (p &lt; 0.05) entre asociaciones; sin embargo, se observó un comportamiento muy variable, siendo en invierno (422 tallos m2) cuando se registraron las mayores DPT (50:00:50; p &lt; 0.05). La asociación 20:40:40 obtuvo la mayor TAT con 7.0 tallos 100 tallos-1, misma que en marzo presentó la mayor TMT al igual que 70:20:10, con 4 tallos 100 tallos-1 en abril, respectivamente (p &lt; 0.05). La dinámica poblacional de plantas y tallos de ballico perenne (DPT, TAT, TMT, TST), no está determinada por la proporción de las especies en las asociaciones, pero si es definida por la estación del año independientemente de las proporciones asociadas.

Micellisation of polystyrene-b-polyglycidol copolymers in water solution

The preparation of a set of amphiphilic polystyrene-b-polyglycidol (PS-b-PGL) diblock copolymers and their characteristics in aqueous media are described. The copolymers were prepared via anionic polymerisation starting from the synthesis of a polystyrene macroinitiator terminated by ethylene oxide, followed by anionic polymerisation of glycidol 1-ethoxyethyl ether to obtain a poly(1-ethoxyethyl glycidyl ether) block. The ethoxyethyl blocking groups of the hydroxyls were subsequently removed by hydrolysis. The copolymers differed in polymerisation degree of the polyglycidol block with DP values equal to 13, 43, 68 and 125, whereas the DP of polystyrene was 29. Two different organic media, N,N-dimethylformamide and dioxane, were used to prepare copolymer solutions dialysed afterward against water. The behaviour of diblock copolymers in water, their self-assembly and the size parameters of their aggregated structures were determined using dynamic light scattering. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) did not depend on the initial solvent and linearly increased with increasing content of hydrophilic glycidol units in the copolymer chain. However, above the CMC, the dispersions obtained from DMF contained a significant fraction of large aggregates. In the case of dioxane after dialysis, only one population of particles of the sizes, which can be related to typical core–shell micelles, was observed. Cryogenic transmission electron microscopy images revealed the presence of spherical objects and confirmed their sizes. PS-b-PGL micelles were highly stable and did not dissociate even after dissolution of their dispersions to concentrations below the CMC.

Vascular ultrasound in pediatrics: estimation of depth and diameter of jugular and femoral vessels.

To estimate, on the basis of anthropometric and demographic variables, the depth (Dp) and diameter (Dm) of femoral and jugular vessels, which have been located and measured by ultrasound, in pediatric patients. 750 measurements of Dp and Dm of the femoral vein (FV), femoral artery (FA) and internal jugular vein(IJV) were made in 125 pediatric patients. The values were correlated with patients' sex, weight, age, size and body surface area (BSA). Mean Dp values were 0.72 (0.34) cm for FA, 0.79 (0.35) cm for FV and 0.77 (0.24) cm for IJV. Mean antero-posterior Dm values were 0.37 (0.17) cm for FA, 0.42 (0.22) cm for FV and 0.59 (0.23) cm for IJV. In the studied pediatric patients, femoral and jugular vessels depth correlated with age, size, weight and BSA (R=0.46-0.60); vascular depth could be estimated from patients' weight and size (FA-Dp: R=0.71; FV-Dp: R=0.72; IJV-Dp: R=0.53). Correlation with diameter was better for FA and FV (R=0.81-0.89) than for IJV (R=0.42-0.51); vascular diameter could be estimated from patient's size (FA-Dm: R=0.89; FV-Dm: R=0.86; IJV-Dm: R=0.52). FV, FA and IJV depth and diameter correlated with weight, size, age and body surface area in the studied pediatric patients. Correlation was better for femoral than for jugular vessels. Depth could be estimated from patients' weight and size, while diameter could be estimated from the size. Such estimations may facilitate the choice of vessels to be cannulated, length and diameter of cannulation needles and the diameter of catheters to be used in pediatric patients.

Electron tomography and fractal aspects of MoS2 and MoS2/Co spheres

A study was made by a combination of 3D electron tomography reconstruction methods and N2 adsorption for determining the fractal dimension for nanometric MoS2 and MoS2/Co catalyst particles. DFT methods including Neimarke-Kiselev’s method allowed to determine the particle porosity and fractal arrays at the atomic scale for the S-Mo-S(Co) 2D- layers that conform the spherically shaped catalyst particles. A structural and textural correlation was sought by further characterization performed by x-ray Rietveld refinement and Radial Distribution Function (RDF) methods, electron density maps, computational density functional theory methods and nitrogen adsorption methods altogether, for studying the structural and textural features of spherical MoS2 and MoS2/Co particles. Neimark-Kiselev’s equations afforded the evaluation of a pore volume variation from 10 to 110 cm3/g by cobalt insertion in the MoS2 crystallographic lattice, which induces the formation of cavities and throats in between of less than 29 nm, with a curvature radius rk < 14.4 nm; typical large needle-like arrays having 20 2D layers units correspond to a model consisting of smooth surfaces within these cavities. Decreasing DP, DB, DI and DM values occur when Co atoms are present in the MoS2 laminates, which promote the formation of smoother edges and denser surfaces that have an influence on the catalytic properties of the S-Mo-S(Co) system.

Environmental pollution by heavy metals in the São João River basin, southern Brazil

Environmental pollution tends to reduce the quality of water sources around the world. Thus, there is a clear need for strategic assessments of conditions that negatively affect river basins. The Sao Joao River basin is located in a strategic conservation area due to the abounding water resources and biodiversity, but is strongly affected by anthropic activity. In this study, eight metals were evaluated (Cu, Mn, Fe, Zn, Cr, Co, Cd and Pb) in sediment and water from ten different points in the Sao Joao water basin. The Sao Joao basin pollution was evaluated through the geoaccumulation index (Igeo), ecological risk potential (ERP) and degree of pollution (Dp). The most toxic metals found in sediments were Cr (3.1–10.7), Cd (2.1–5.5) and Pb (5.0–28.1) in µg g−1. In the water samples, the most toxic metals were Cr (3.7–33.2), Cd (6.3–14.2) and Pb (5.0–57.5) in µg L−1. The Igeo presented indices between 2 and 3 in 80% of the samples, indicating significant pollution in the sediment. In 40% of the points sampled, the ERP values indicated severe risk for the ecosystem. In 30% of the water samples, the Dp values were over 40, indicating the highest pollution level. The results reveal that the use of land and water in the Sao Joao water basin without proper care might represent considerably high ecological and sanitary risk.

Mild chemical pretreatments are sufficient for complete saccharification of steam-exploded residues and high ethanol production in desirable wheat accessions

In this study, a combined pretreatment was performed in four wheat accessions using steam explosion followed with different concentrations of H2SO4 or NaOH, leading to increased hexoses yields by 3–6 folds from enzymatic hydrolysis. Further co-supplied with 1% Tween-80, Talq90 and Talq16 accessions exhibited an almost complete enzymatic saccharification of steam-exploded (SE) residues after 0.5% H2SO4 or 1% NaOH pretreatment, with the highest bioethanol yields at 18.5%–19.4%, compared with previous reports about wheat bioethanol yields at 11%–17% obtained under relatively strong pretreatment conditions. Furthermore, chemical analysis indicated that much enhanced saccharification in Talq90 and Talq16 may be partially due to their relatively low cellulose CrI and DP values and high hemicellulose Ara and H-monomer levels in raw materials and SE residues. Hence, this study has not only demonstrated a mild pretreatment technology for a complete saccharification, but it has also obtained the high ethanol production in desirable wheat accessions.

Altitudinal effect of soil n-alkane δD values on the eastern Tibetan Plateau and their increasing isotopic fractionation with altitude

Stable isotope paleoaltimetry has provided unprecedented insights into the topographic histories of many of the world’s highest mountain ranges. However, on the Tibetan Plateau (TP), stable isotopes from paleosols generally yield much higher paleoaltitudes than those based on fossils. It is therefore essential when attempting to interpret accurately this region’s paleoaltitudes that the empirical calibrations of local stable isotopes and the relations between them are established. Additionally, it is vital that careful estimations be made when estimate how different isotopes sourced from different areas may have been influenced by different controls. We present here 29 hydrogen isotopic values for leaf wax-derived n -alkanes (i.e., δ Dwax values, and abundance-weighted average δ D values of C29 and C31) in surface soils, as well as the δ D values of soil water ( δ Dsw) samples (totaling 22) from Mount Longmen (LM), on the eastern TP (altitude ~0.8–4.0 km above sea level (asl), a region climatically affected by the East Asian Monsoon (EAM). We compared our results with published data from Mount Gongga (GG). In addition, 47 river water samples, 55 spring water samples, and the daily and monthly summer precipitation records (from May to October, 2015) from two precipitation observation stations were collected along the GG transect for δ D analysis. LM soil δ Dwax values showed regional differences and responded strongly to altitude, varying from ‒160‰ to ‒219‰, with an altitudinal lapse rate (ALR) of ‒18 ‰ km‒1 ( R 2=0.83; p n =29). These δ Dwax values appeared more enriched than those from the GG transect by ~40‰. We found that both the climate and moisture sources led to the differences observed in soil δ Dwax values between the LM and GG transects. We found that, as a general rule, e wax/rw, e wax/p and e wax/sw values (i.e., the isotopic fractionation of δ Dwax corresponding to δ Drw, δ Dp and δ Dsw) increased with increasing altitude along both the LM and GG transects (up to 34‰and 50‰, respectively). Basing its research on a comparative study of δ Dwax, δ Dp, δ Drw( δ Dspringw) and δ Dsw, this paper discusses the effects of moisture recycling, glacier-fed meltwater, relative humidity ( RH ), evapotranspiration ( ET ), vegetation cover, latitude, topography and/or other factors on e wax/p values. Clearly, if e wax-p values at higher altitudes are calculated using smaller e wax-p values from lower altitudes, the calculated paleowater δ Dp values are going to be more depleted than the actual δ D values, and any paleoaltitude would therefore be overestimated.