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- Author or Editor: Y. B. Xu x
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Abstract
Conversion of economic microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) into high value-added prebiotic glucans, is not only stimulates utilisation of renewable lignocellulosic biomass, but also provides cheap prebiotics to reduce high incidence of obesity and metabolic syndrome. Herein, glucans (C0.25–C0.50–C1.00) from MCC were prepared by pre-impregnation with dilute sulphuric acid (0.25–0.50–1.00%) and ball-milling treatment for 1 h. NMR spectroscopy and gel-permeation chromatography of the glucan products showed a significant reduction in the degree of polymerisation (DP) and molecular weights (Mw). All prepared glucans improved gut stress evaluated by in vitro digestion and fermentation (young and aging mouse faecal inocula). C1.00 with lower DP and Mw showed better water solubility, earlier peak, and exhibited increased 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl activity, higher ratios of Lactobacillus to Escherichia coli, and a higher level of short chain fatty acids better than C0.25 and C0.50 treatment (P < 0.05). Better prebiotic effects were observed in aging mice than in young mice. The highest ratio of Lactobacillus to E. coli was a 2.13-fold increase for aging mice compared to a 1.79-fold increase for young mice, relative to the initial value after C1.00 treatment. The study provides a novel pathway and a new resource for producing glucan.
Abstract
The molar heat capacities C p,m of 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol were measured in the temperature range from 78 to 410 K by means of a small sample automated adiabatic calorimeter. A solid-solid and a solid-liquid phase transitions were found at T-314.304 and 402.402 K, respectively, from the experimental C p-T curve. The molar enthalpies and entropies of these transitions were determined to be 14.78 kJ mol−1, 47.01 J K−1 mol− for the solid-solid transition and 7.518 kJ mol−1, 18.68 J K−1 mol−1 for the solid-liquid transition, respectively. The dependence of heat capacity on the temperature was fitted to the following polynomial equations with least square method. In the temperature range of 80 to 310 K, C p,m/(J K−1 mol−1)=117.72+58.8022x+3.0964x 2+6.87363x 3−13.922x 4+9.8889x 5+16.195x 6; x=[(T/K)−195]/115. In the temperature range of 325 to 395 K, C p,m/(J K−1 mol−1)=290.74+22.767x−0.6247x 2−0.8716x 3−4.0159x 4−0.2878x 5+1.7244x 6; x=[(T/K)−360]/35. The thermodynamic functions H T−H 298.15 and S T−S 298.15, were derived from the heat capacity data in the temperature range of 80 to 410 K with an interval of 5 K. The thermostability of the compound was further tested by DSC and TG measurements. The results were in agreement with those obtained by adiabatic calorimetry.
Summary
The extraction of protactinium with Aliquat 336 (methyl-tri-caprylyl ammonium chloride) in toluene, cyclohexane and chloroform from HCl, HNO3, H2SO4, HClO4, HF and mixed HCl-HF media was investigated by radioactive tracer technique. Distribution ratios of protactinium between the aqueous solution and the organic phase were determined as a function of shaking time, concentrations of acid in aqueous solution phase, extractant concentration and type of diluents in the organic phase. Aliquat 336 can almost quantitatively extract protactinium from strong HCl solution. At the same time, small amounts of HF in HCl solutions have a strong effect on Pa distribution.
As one of the world’s earliest domesticated crops, barley is a model species for the study of evolution and domestication. Domestication is an evolutionary process whereby a population adapts, through selection; to new environments created by human cultivation. We describe the genome-scanning of molecular diversity to assess the evolution of barley in the Tibetan Plateau. We used 667 Diversity Arrays Technology (DArT) markers to genotype 185 barley landraces and wild barley accessions from the Tibetan Plateau. Genetic diversity in wild barley was greater than in landraces at both genome and chromosome levels, except for chromosome 3H. Landraces and wild barley accessions were clearly differentiated genetically, but a limited degree of introgression was still evident. Significant differences in diversity between barley subspecies at the chromosome level were observed for genes known to be related to physiological and phenotypical traits, disease resistance, abiotic stress tolerance, malting quality and agronomic traits. Selection on the genome of six-rowed naked barley has shown clear multiple targets related to both its specific end-use and the extreme environment in Tibet. Our data provide a platform to identify the genes and genetic mechanisms that underlie phenotypic changes, and provide lists of candidate domestication genes for modified breeding strategies.
