Gas Chromatograph-mass Spectrometer Research Articles

Application of novel metal organic framework-deep eutectic solvent/molecularly imprinted polymer multiple monolithic fiber for solid phase microextraction of amphetamines and modafinil in unauthorized medicinal supplements with GC-MS

The goal of this research is the development of multiple monolithic fiber-solid phase microextraction (MMF-SPME) using a new integrated fiber for the determination of amphetamine derivatives and modafinil from unauthorized medicinal supplements. For this purpose, a monolithic fiber of metal organic framework MIL-Al (53)-deep eutectic solvent (DES)/molecularly imprinted polymers (MOF-DES/MIP) was synthesized. To find optimum microextraction conditions gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) was used and the influences of effective variables were investigated using one factor at a time method. After that, the significant variables were optimized using a Box-Behnken design (BBD) combined with a desirability function (DF). Under optimized conditions (desorption solvent=1500 µL of 1-octanol, pH=3.5, extraction time=35 min, [NaCl]=0% w/v and stirring rate=600 rpm), calibration graphs of analytes were linear in a concentration range of 0.1–400 μg L−1 with correlation coefficients > 0.9966. Limits of detection and quantification were in the ranges of 0.023–0.033 μg L−1 and 0.088–0.113 μg L−1, respectively. This procedure was successfully employed in determining target analytes in spiked and unspiked unauthorized medicinal supplement samples with recoveries ranging from 95.14 to 104.63%.

Designing unimolecular photoinitiator by installing NHPI esters along the TX backbone for acrylate photopolymerization and their applications in coatings and 3D printing

Developing efficient and long wavelength sensitive unimolecular photoinitiators (PIs) is still facing a great challenge. In this work, a series of thioxanthone-based N-hydroxyphthalimide esters (TX-NHPIEs) were synthesized by installing NHPIEs along the TX backbone and characterized. The investigated TX-NHPIEs have a 60 nm redshift and demonstrate sterling initiating efficiency for free radical photopolymerization (FRP) under LED@450 nm light irradiation compared with the commercialized isopropylthioxanthone (ITX). Real-time 1Hnuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), electron spin resonance (ESR), decarboxylation and gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC–MS) experiments and density functional theory (DFT) reveal that TX-NHPIEs can generate one alkyl radical and one N-centered iminyl radical, which can initiate FRP directly and indirectly, respectively. In other words, TX-NHPIEs absorb one photon and can generate two active radicals, which break through the limitations of common PIs. TX-NHPIE-Cpe demonstrates the highest initiating efficiency, and its application in coatings and 3D printing was also studied, indicating TX-NHPIEs have broad potential applications in photopolymerization processes.

Size-Resolved Identification and Quantification of Micro/Nanoplastics in Indoor Air Using Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography-Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry.

Humans are exposed to differing levels of micro/nanoplastics (MNPs) through inhalation, but few studies have attempted to measure <1 μm MNPs in air, in part due to a paucity of analytical methods. We developed an approach to identify and quantify MNPs in indoor air using a novel pyrolysis gas chromatographic cyclic ion mobility mass spectrometer (pyr-GCxcIMS). Four common plastic types were targeted for identification, namely, (polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). The method was applied to size-resolved particulate (56 nm to 18 μm) collected from two different indoor environments using a Micro-Orifice Uniform Deposit Impactors (MOUDI) model 110 cascade impactor. Comprehensive two-dimensional separation by GCxcIMS also enabled the retrospective analysis of other polymers and plastic additives. The mean concentrations of MNP particles with diameters of <10 μm and <2.5 μm in the laboratory were estimated to be 47 ± 5 and 27 ± 4 μg/m3, respectively. In the private residence, the estimated concentrations were 24 ± 3 and 16 ± 2 μg/m3. PS was the most abundant MNP type in both locations. Nontargeted screening revealed the presence of plastic additives, such as TDCPP (tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl)phosphate) whose abundance correlated with that of polyurethane (PU). This is consistent with their use as flame retardants in PU-based upholstered furniture and building insulation. This study provides evidence of indoor exposure to MNPs and underlines the need for further study of this route of exposure to MNPs and the plastic additives carried with them.

The volatile components from Bacillus cereus N4 can restrain brown rot of peach fruit by inhibiting sporulation of Monilinia fructicola and inducing disease resistance

Brown rot caused by Monilinia fructicola is one major disease in harvested peach fruit. Natural volatile compounds (VOCs) produced by antagonistic microorganisms have good biocontrol effects on postharvest fungal diseases. The present study showed the VOCs of Bacillus cereus N4 isolated from the orchard soil could significantly inhibit the sporulation and mycelial growth of M. fructicola. The expression levels of MfRGS2, MfRGS3 and MfLTF2α, which are unfavorable to the sporulation of M. fructicola were significantly induced by the VOCs of B. cereus N4. Moreover, the expression levels of MfRGS1, MfRGS4, MfREG1, MfPPOA and MfOPT1, which are beneficial to the sporulation of M. fructicola were markedly repressed. After fumigated with the VOCs of B. cereus N4 then inoculated with M. fructicola, peach fruit exhibited markedly lower disease incidence and lesion diameter than the control. Moreover, the activity of CHI and the expression level of PpCHI and PpPR1 of the fruit were significantly improved. 3-methyl-1-butanol, s-methyl butanethioate and 2-methyl-2-(methylthio)propane were the main antifungal substances in the VOCs of B. cereus N4 identified by gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS). Overall, the study provides natural candidates antibacterial agent from a biocontrol agent B. cereus N4 to restrain brown rot of peach fruit caused by M. fructicola.

Degradation on BDE209 in the soil by kaolin-supported sulfurized nano-zero-valent iron activated persulfate system: Insights mechanism and DFT calculations

The nanoscale zerovalent iron (nZVI) was successfully modified with sulfidation and loaded by kaolin (K@S-nZVI) for enhanced persulfate (PS) activation. K@S-nZVI was characterized by SEM-EDS, TEM, XPS, BET and XRD. The better degradation performance of BDE209 was in the following order: K@S-nZVI/PS> S-nZVI/PS> nZVI/PS> > systems without PS activation. The maximum removal of BDE209 was 88.32% under PS concentration of 0.2 mol/L, soil-water ratio of 1:2.5 and the molar ratio of K@S-nZVI/PS of 2:1. The reactive oxygen species in the K@S-nZVI/PS system were identified by EPR and quenching experiments as SO4-·,·OH,·O2- and the nonracial of 1O2. SO4-· and·O2- dominated the degradation of BDE209 and·OH and 1O2 were involved. According to gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, BDE209 could be degraded to BDE7 by gradual debromination and further degraded into Br- and short-chain acids by ring opening reaction of benzene ring. The coexistence of SO42-, Cl-, CO32-, NO3- and HA reduced the degradation of BDE209. The soil pH did not change significantly during the remediation process. At the beginning of remediation process, soil catalase activities were enhanced while phosphatase and urease activities were weakened but they all recovered finally, exhibiting less damage to microbial cells. The K@S-nZVI/PS system is expected to be practically applied to the remediation of BDE209 contaminated soil.

Inhibitory effects of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus Harms extract on the etiology of rheumatoid arthritis in a collagen-induced arthritis mouse model

BackgroundThe biological function of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus Harm (ASH) has been investigated on various diseases; however, the effects of ASH on arthritis have not been investigated so far. This study investigates the effects of ASH on rheumatoid arthritis (RA).MethodsSupercritical carbon dioxide (CO2) was used for ASH extract preparation, and its primary components, pimaric and kaurenoic acids, were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC–MS). Collagenase-induced arthritis (CIA) was used as the RA model, and primary cultures of articular chondrocytes were used to examine the inhibitory effects of ASH extract on arthritis in three synovial joints: ankle, sole, and knee.ResultsPimaric and kaurenoic acids attenuated pro-inflammatory cytokine-mediated increase in the catabolic factors and retrieved pro-inflammatory cytokine-mediated decrease in related anabolic factors in vitro; however, they did not affect pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6)-mediated cytotoxicity. ASH effectively inhibited cartilage degradation in the knee, ankle, and toe in the CIA model and decreased pannus development in the knee. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that ASH mostly inhibited the IL-6-mediated matrix metalloproteinase. Gene Ontology and pathway studies bridge major gaps in the literature and provide insights into the pathophysiology and in-depth mechanisms of RA-like joint degeneration.ConclusionsTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to conduct extensive research on the efficacy of ASH extract in inhibiting the pathogenesis of RA. However, additional animal models and clinical studies are required to validate this hypothesis.

Improved application of immobilized Enterobacter cloacae into a bio-based polymer for Reactive Blue 19 removal, an eco-friendly advancement in potential decolorizing systems.

The widespread use of highly complex synthetic dyes like reactive dyes in the textile industry has some adverse environmental impacts and deserves close attention. Biological treatment of these effluents utilizing various species of bacteria with remarkable efficiency in dye removal is still considered promising. Our current study deals with immobilizing an isolated bacterial strain into calcium alginate (Ca/Alg) gel beads and using it to treat pernicious pollutants like synthetic dyes. A potential Reactive Blue 19 (RB19)-degrading Enterobacter cloacae strain A1 was isolated from the Kashan textile industry and was characterized by 16S rDNA gene sequencing. The decolorization ability of strain A1 was assessed by time-based studies using free bacterial cells/immobilized in Ca/Alg. Based on the results of the 16S rDNA gene sequencing, it appears that strain A1 belonged to E.cloacae, with a 99.74% similarity. The findings suggest that immobilized strain A1 accomplished maximum decolorization activity compared with the free cells. The immobilized strain could utterly decompose and decolorize 0.05 mg/mL of RB19 within 48 h, while the free bacterial strain decolorized RB19 within 5 days. Moreover, Ca/Alg gel beads can maintain their efficiency for over three decolorization cycles. Further infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and gas chromatograph mass spectrometer (GC/MS) investigation declared complete RB19 decomposition on reaction products. Artemia salina was used to investigate the toxicity of dye and its degraded metabolites. The LC50 values signified the pure dye as very toxic with 0.01 mg/mL concentration, while after-treatment products showed no toxic effect on larvae. This immobilization technique increased the applicability of bacterial strain for dye removal. It was beneficial for the decolorization of RB19 from textile wastewater due to a remarkable reduction in time. Notably, strain A1-immobilized beads can maintain their activity for three consecutive decolorization cycles without a considerable decrease in efficiency. PRACTITIONER POINTS: The remarkable capacity of immobilized Enterobacter cloacae strain A1 for Reactive Blue 19 (RB19) removal Immobilized A1 strain showed two-fold higher removal than free one over 48 h A promising method for enhancing RB19 decolorization Decolorization was due to degradation based on UV-Vis, FTIR, and GC/MS analysis Non-toxic posttreatment products for Artemia.

Сравнительный анализ микробиоты секрета простаты у больных хроническим абактериальным простатитом категории IIIа и IIIб

Numerous studies have established that chronic prostatitis/ chronic pelvic pain syndrome ( CP/CPPS) is the focus of attention of the global medical community, because it is the most common type of disease, the treatment of which has largely unsatisfactory results. Purpose of the work: to conduct a comparative analysis of the microbiota of prostate secretions in patients with CP/CPPS IIIa and IIIb using mass spectrometry of microbial markers (MSMM). Material and methods. A prospective comparative study was conducted from 2018 to 2023 at the SM-Clinic medical center. 205 patients with prostatitis-like symptoms and 70 males who applied for a screening examination with no complaints at the age of 25 to 50 years were selected. The subjects were divided into three groups: group 1 – patients with CP/CPPS category IIIa, group 2 ( n = 85) patients with CP/CPPS category IIIb with clinical manifestations of chronic prostatitis and group 3 ( n = 70) – without clinical manifestations prostatitis/control group. A study of the microbiota of prostate secretions was carried out using gas chromatograph mass spectrometer "Maestro" (LLC "Interlab", Russia). Results. The results of statistical analysis showed that the level of cocci and bacilli, anaerobes, actinobacteria, fungi and yeasts, as well as total viruses in patients with CP/CPPS IIIa, compared with patients with CP/CPPS IIIb and the control group, was significantly higher ( p = 0.0020 ; p &lt; 0.0001; p &lt; 0.0001; p = 0.0254; p = 0.0254). It was revealed that in patients with CP/CPPS IIIa, compared with patients with CP/CPPS IIIb and healthy people, there was a significant increase in the total load of cocci and bacilli, anaerobes, actinobacteria, fungi and yeasts, as well as total viruses . When analyzing the relationship between the absolute number of microorganisms, it was revealed that an increase in the level of many microorganisms is associated with an increase in the probability of detecting a leukocyte level ≥10. An analysis of the relationship between the occurrence of individual microorganisms and leukocyte values in prostate secretions ≥10 showed that an increase in the indicators of many microorganisms, compared with the control group, increased the chances of having a leukocyte level ≥10 several times. Conclusion. Identification of microbial associations in prostate secretions using the MSMM method and an increase in the total load of microorganisms in patients with CP/CPPS IIIa, compared with CP/CPPS IIIa and the control group, suggests the role of infection in a certain part of patients with CP/CPPS IIIa, which dictates the need to change the view of the urologist in the diagnosis and treatment strategy of these patients

Integration of food raw materials, food microbiology, and food additives: systematic research and comprehensive insights into sweet sorghum juice, Clostridium tyrobutyricum TGL-A236 and bio-butyric acid.

Sweet sorghum juice is a typical production feedstock for natural, eco-friendly sweeteners and beverages. Clostridium tyrobutyricum is one of the widely used microorganisms in the food industry, and its principal product, bio-butyric acid is an important food additive. There are no published reports of Clostridium tyrobutyricum producing butyric acid using SSJ as the sole substrate without adding exogenous substances, which could reach a food-additive grade. This study focuses on tailoring a cost-effective, safe, and sustainable process and strategy for their production and application. This study modeled the enzymolysis of non-reducing sugars via the first/second-order kinetics and added food-grade diatomite to the hydrolysate. Qualitative and quantitative analysis were performed using high-performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometer, full-scale laser diffraction method, ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, the cell double-staining assay, transmission electron microscopy, and Oxford nanopore technology sequencing. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, pathway and process enrichment analysis, and homology modeling were conducted for mutant genes. The treated sweet sorghum juice showed promising results, containing 70.60 g/L glucose and 63.09 g/L fructose, with a sucrose hydrolysis rate of 98.29% and a minimal sucrose loss rate of 0.87%. Furthermore, 99.62% of the colloidal particles and 82.13% of the starch particles were removed, and the concentrations of hazardous substances were effectively reduced. A food microorganism Clostridium tyrobutyricum TGL-A236 with deep utilization value was developed, which showed superior performance by converting 30.65% glucose and 37.22% fructose to 24.1364 g/L bio-butyric acid in a treated sweet sorghum juice (1:1 dilution) fermentation broth. This titer was 2.12 times higher than that of the original strain, with a butyric acid selectivity of 86.36%. Finally, the Genome atlas view, Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and evolutionary genealogy of genes: Non-supervised Orthologous (eggNOG) functional annotations, three-dimensional structure and protein cavity prediction of five non-synonymous variant genes were obtained. This study not only includes a systematic process flow and in-depth elucidation of relevant mechanisms but also provides a new strategy for green processing of food raw materials, improving food microbial performance, and ensuring the safe production of food additives.

Investigation of Urine Organic Acid Profile in Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Patients.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral infection caused by severe acute respiratory syn-drome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The high mortality and morbidity rate and its course with a wide variety of clinical symptoms indicate that the disease affects many metabolic pathways. The aim of our study was to investi-gate the metabolic effects of SARS-CoV-2 by evaluating the urinary organic acid profile in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Can metabolites in urine guide the diagnosis, follow-up, treatment, and prognosis of COVID-19? Forty-two patients, including 30 SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR positive patients and 12 SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR negative controls, were studied. SARS-COV-2 RT-PCR of nasopharyngeal swab samples was studied. Urines were evaluated in the GCMS-QP2010 SE Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer (SHIMADZU) device for organic acid profile in the metabolism laboratory. Urine organic acid profile was evaluated by studying 117 organic acids in each patient. Tiglylglycine, 2-hydroxybutyric acid, 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid, 3-hydroxypropionic acid, erythro-4,5-dihydroxyhexanoic acid lactone, 2-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, N-acetyltyrosine, 3-phenyllactic acid, 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid, 3-hydroxysebacic acid, palmitic acid, 3-methylglutaconic acid, 3-methylglutaric acid, lactic acid, pyruvic acid-oxime, 3-hydroxysobutyric acid, and organic acids were found to be increased, compared to the control group. Tiglylglycine has been specifically identified as a potential biomarker of respiratory chain disorders. The deterioration in lipid metabolism and pyruvate pathway in COVID-19 patients was evaluated as remarkable.

Skin emitted volatiles analysis for noninvasive diagnosis: the current advances in sample preparation techniques for biomedical application.

Human skin emits a series of volatile compounds from the skin due to various metabolic processes, microbial activity, and several external factors. Changes in the concentration of skin volatile metabolites indicate many diseases, including diabetes, cancer, and infectious diseases. Researchers focused on skin-emitted compounds to gain insight into the pathophysiology of various diseases. In the case of skin volatolomics research, it is noteworthy that sample preparation, sampling protocol, analytical techniques, and comprehensive validation are important for the successful integration of skin metabolic profiles into regular clinical settings. Solid-phase microextraction techniques and polymer-based active sorbent traps were developed to capture the skin-emitted volatile compounds. The primary advantage of these sample preparation techniques is the ability to efficiently and targetedly capture skin metabolites, thus improving the detection of the biomarkers associated with various diseases. In further research, polydimethyl-based patches were utilized for skin research due to their biocompatibility and thermal stability properties. The microextraction sampling tools coupled with high sensitive Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer provided a potential platform for skin volatolomes, thus emerging as a state-of-the-art analytical technique. Later, technological advancements, including the design of wearable sensors, have enriched skin-based research as it can integrate the information from skin-emitted volatile profiles into a portable platform. However, individual-specific hydration, temperature, and skin conditions can influence variations in skin volatile concentration. Considering the subject-specific skin depth, sampling time standardization, and suitable techniques may improve the skin sampling techniques for the potential discovery of various skin-based marker compounds associated with diseases. Here, we have summarised the current research progress, limitations, and technological advances in skin-based sample preparation techniques for disease diagnosis, monitoring, and personalized healthcare applications.

Hydroxymethyl ester derivative of hexadecanoic acid a possible hepatoprotectant from pulp of Cucurbita pepo

It has been suggested that Cucurbita pepo, or pumpkin, is a veritable gold mine of fiber, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and antioxidants with a range of pharmacological properties, including hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. The oxidative stress and liver damage may be lessened by the natural plant components present in pumpkin. The GC-MS analysis was aimed to determine the presence of any compound reported to be hepatoprotective or antioxidants from the pulp of C. pepo. The analysis was conducted using the aqueous fraction of hydroethanolic extract. The bioactive elements of the pulp of C. pepo extract were examined using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS). The hexadecanoic acid, a reported hepatoprotectant and antioxidant effective against various diseases, was identified in the extract by GC-MS analysis. The hexadecanoic acid can be used in the possible medication and treatment for hepatic dysfunction. A wide range of illnesses can be treated with the many compounds discovered in plants employed in traditional medicine. Most people use traditional medicine based on compounds obtained from medicinal plants. Consequently, more study on these plants is required to comprehend their traits, efficacy, and safety. Therefore, the study will be connected to assess the C. pepo pulp extract’s ability to protect against hepatotoxicity.

Development of a portable gas chromatography linear ion trap mass spectrometer (GC-LIT-MS) for VOCs analysis in water

The detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in water faces challenges due to the presence of complex matrix interferences and low concentration. This paper presented a portable gas chromatography linear ion trap mass spectrometer (GC-LIT-MS) coupled with dynamic headspace sampling (DHS) system for sensitive and rapid on-site analysis of VOCs in water. The instrument weighs 18 kg and has compact dimensions of 43 cm × 35 cm x 20 cm, offering portability and convenience. A low thermal mass (LTM) chromatographic column, utilizing resistive heating, enables rapid heating and cooling within the runtime of GC. The linear ion trap, for the first time, has been integrated as a mass analyser in portable gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS). Its ability to store a greater number of ions within the trap expands the dynamic range of the instrument. The influence of dynamic headspace injection conditions on the purging efficiency of VOCs was investigated and the equilibrium temperature was optimized. The GC-LIT-MS method was demonstrated to be capable to identify and separate 55 VOCs in water within 4 min, with most of them exhibiting detection limits of less than 1 μg L−1. The calibration of 4 VOCs with concentrations ranged from 2 parts per million (ppm) to 200 ppm showed excellent linearity (R2 > 0.99) and dynamic range more than five orders of magnitude. Resolution superior to unit mass was achieved within the range of 15 AMU to 550 AMU.

Biomass waste to produce bio oil as rejuvenator for asphalt based on pyrolysis technology

ABSTRACT The objective of the current study is to research the suitability of using two bio-oils produced from corncob and birch bark as two bio-rejuvenators to regenerate aged asphalt binders. To this end, the pyrolysis characteristics of corncob and birch bark were analysed using a thermogravimetric analyzer. The chemical characteristics of the bio-rejuvenators were then evaluated via an elemental analyzer and the Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) test. The results revealed the presence of a great quantity of lightly weighted compounds in bio-oils. Pen70 asphalt was used as control asphalt binders. The Rotational Viscometer (RV) test result showed that bio-rejuvenators could help reduce the viscosity of aged asphalt binders. In addition, the Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) experiments revealed that bio-rejuvenators could reduce the complex shear modulus, decrease percent strain recovery, increase non-recoverable creep compliance and restore the fatigue performance of the aged asphalt. The Bending Beam Rheometer (BBR) tests indicated that the cracking performance of the bio-rejuvenated asphalt was also improved compared with the aged asphalt. The Fourier transform infrared spectra demonstrated that the bio-rejuvenators helped reduce the aged asphalt's carbonyl and sulfoxide indexes. In addition, the Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) test indicated that bio-rejuvenators reduced the polydispersity and molecular weight of the aged asphalt.

Fatty Acids Profiling from An Antarctic Microalga, Pseudococcomyxa sp.

The main source of valuable fatty acids such as eicosapentaenic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) that are important for human health are from marine fish. However, fatty acids derived from fish have many downsides such as contaminated with environmental pollution. Plus, the marine fish sources are limited due to several reasons. Hence, microalgae are seen to be potential alternative source of these valuable fatty acids. Microalgae are equipped with distinctive adaptive mechanisms that allow them to survive in all sorts of habitat even in subzero temperature such as in Antarctic. One of them is increased in their fatty acid levels. This research aims to characterize one species of Antarctic microalga isolated from polar ice of genus thought to be Pseudococcomyxa sp. and to profile its fatty acid compositions. The fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) was profiled using gas chromatography mass spectrometer (GC-MS) using methanol as solvent. Generally, the morphological characteristics of possible genus of Pseudococcomyxa sp. matched the actual Pseudococcomyxa sp. The total fatty acids percentage in Pseudococcomyxa sp. cultured in Bold’s Basal Medium (BBM) had been successfully identified using methanol as solvent which is 53.13% with linolelaidic acid as the highest percentage (27.15%). The fatty acid compositions of Antarctic microalga, Pseudococcomyxa sp. which were successfully profiled have many potentials to be exploited in the future especially in pharmaceutical and food industry. Keywords: Antarctic, fatty acids, food, microalgae, pharmaceutical

Determination of Fatty Acids and Minerals from Balanites aegyptiaca Fruit Kernel in Heglig Forest West Sudan

Balanites aegyptiaca, particularly its fruit, is often used as food and in traditional medicine and herbalists throughout Africa and Asia for the treatment of many ailments. The fruit kernel has a high concentration of oil and minerals. This study aims to examine fatty acids in the oil and minerals in the fruit kernel. The Samples are collected from the Heglig forest in west Sudan for the first time, and prepared for analysis using solvent extraction and acid digestion methods. The fatty acids content is identified using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) as well and minerals are detected by adopting inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The oil contained 41.66% unsaturated fatty acids 58.33% saturated fatty acids and a variety of minerals, the highest amount belonged to Sulfur (6.9 ppm), phosphorous (2.2 ppm), and iodine (2 ppm). GC-MS analysis observed 12 different proportions of fatty acid, Linoleic acid, Stearic acid, and Oleic acid have a peak.

Comparison of microbial diversity and metabolites on household and commercial doenjang

In this study, the microbial diversity, free amino acid (FAA), and biological activities of household doenjang (HDJ) from four different regions and commercial doenjang (CDJ) four manufacturers were analyzed. And volatile flavor compound (VFC) and isoflavone profiles were analyzed using gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), respectively. The major bacterial genus in 1HDJ and 2HDJ was Bacillus (97.5%), while in 3HDJ and 4HDJ, it was Enterobacter (47.5%) and Pseudomonas (80%), respectively. Tetragenococcus was the main bacterial genus of CDJ. The Zygosaccharomyces genus among yeast was comparatively high in all samples. In all samples, glutamic acid predominated among the FAAs, and the 3-methyl butanal, benzeneacetaldehyde, and diallyl disulphide were major VFCs. CDJ contained higher levels of isoflavone-glycoside and total phenolics. Except for 3HDJ and 4CDJ, the isoflavone-aglycone and total flavonoid contents were higher in HDJ. The correlation between bacterial genus and metabolited of doenjang showed that Tetragenococcus was closely related to glutamic acid, Bacillus was related to aglycones and ammonia, and Pseudomonas was highly related to isovaleric acid. While, correlation between yeast genus and metabolited of doenjang confirmed that Candida, Hanseniaspora, and Saccharomyces were related with furfural, benzeneacetaldehyde, and 3-methyl butanal, respectively. The results of this study can be utilized as basic data for the industrialization and development of doenjang.

Structural characterization and in vitro fermentation properties of polysaccharides from Polygonatum cyrtonema

Polysaccharides, the major active ingredient and quality control indicator of Polygomatum cyrtonema are in need of elucidation for its in vitro fermentation characteristics. This study aimed to investigate the structural characteristics of the homogeneous Polygomatum cyrtonema polysaccharide (PCP-80 %) and its effects on human intestinal bacteria and short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production during the in vitro fermentation. The results revealed that PCP-80 % was yielded in 10.44 % and the molecular weight was identified to be 4.1 kDa. PCP-80 % exhibited a smooth, porous, irregular sheet structure and provided good thermal stability. The analysis of Gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC–MS) suggested that PCP-80 % contained six glycosidic bonds, with 2,1-linked-Fruf residues accounted for a largest proportion. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) provided additional evidence that the partial structure of PCP-80 % probably consists of →1)-β-D-Fruf-(2 → as the main chain, accompanied by side chains dominated by →6)-β-D-Fruf-(2→. Besides, PCP-80 % promoted the production of SCFAs and increased the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Megamonas, Bifidobacterium and Phascolarctobacterium during in vitro colonic fermentation, which changed the composition of the intestinal microbiota. These findings indicated that Polygomatum cyrtonema polysaccharides were able to modulate the structure and composition of the intestinal bacteria flora and had potential probiotic properties.

Ambient PM2.5-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) associated with pro-thrombotic biomarkers among young healthy adults: A 16 times repeated measurements panel study

Studies have shown that the cardio/cerebrovascular toxicity of ambient PM2.5 is related to its bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Currently, only a few studies have reported the relationship between PM2.5-bound PAHs and promoted blood coagulation and thrombosis, but there isn't a consistent conclusion. Therefore, we conducted a prospective panel study to investigate the association. Thirty-three young healthy adults participated in sixteen repeated visits from 2014 to 2018 in Tianjin, China. During each visit, three pro-thrombotic biomarkers: ADAMTS13 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motif 13), D-dimer and Myeloperoxidase (MPO) were measured. Before each visit, ambient PM2.5 samples were daily collected for one week. Sixteen PAHs were determined using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer, and the positive matrix factorization (PMF) model was applied to identify the sources. Linear mixed-effects models were fitted to investigate the associations between PM2.5-bound PAHs exposure and the biomarkers. Thirteen time-metrics were defined to identify significant time points of PM2.5-bound PAHs' effects. We observed that the increase of PM2.5-bound PAHs exposure was significantly associated with reduced ADAMTS13, elevated D-dimer and MPO. At lag0, each 5.7 ng/m3 increase in Benzo[j]fluoranthene and per 3.4 ng/m3 increase Dibenz[a,h]anthracene could make a maximum change of −19.08 % in ADAMTS13 and 132.60 % in D-dimer. Additionally, per 16.43 ng/m3 increase in Chrysene could lead to a maximum elevation of 32.14 % in MPO at lag4. The PM2.5-bound PAHs often triggered more significant changes at lag 3,4 and 6. The ambient PM2.5-bound PAHs originated from six sources: coal combustion (43.10 %), biomass combustion (20.77 %), diesel emission (14.78 %), gasoline emission (10.95 %), industrial emission (7.58 %), and cooking emission (2.83 %). The greatest contributors to alterations in ADAMTS13, D-dimer and MPO are industrial emission (−48.43 %), biomass combustion (470.32 %) and diesel emission (13.14 %) at lag4. Our findings indicated that short-term exposure to ambient PM2.5-bound PAHs can induce alterations of pro-thrombotic biomarkers among healthy adults.

Identifying the coking of bio-oil in pyrolysis: An in-situ EPR investigation

Serious coking from the bio-oil polymerisation is a bottle-neck challenge for bio-oil thermal upgrading. Probing the mechanism of bio-oil coking is the first step to achieve high carbon conversion efficiency. In this study, in-situ electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy was used to characterise the stable free radical generation during bio-oil pyrolysis at 250–350 °C with reaction time of 2–10 min, which identify the coking process of bio-oil. The liquid and solid products were characterised using gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC–MS), ultraviolet fluorescence (UV-F) and Raman spectroscopy. The results indicate that the coking of bio-oil in pyrolysis can be divided into three stages of varied characteristics. The coke formation precedes with an initial induction period that lasts for 2–8 min and shortens with increasing pyrolysis temperature. In the period, light components polymerise into heavy ones, including polycyclic aromatics as the essential coke precursors. After the induction period, significant amounts of stable free radicals are generated with coke formation, and the content increases from 0.2 to 1.6–7.8 μmol/g bio-oil in the early stage of coking. Meanwhile, the coke precursors, polycyclic aromatics, are rapidly depleted. Afterwards, in the late stage, the nascent coke gradually condenses and the stable free radical content increases slowly.