Kinetics and mechanism study of dyes degradation in electric field-promoting catalytic wet air oxidation process.

Wet air oxidation (WAO) is a clean and eco-friendly technology for dyes removal, but the high operating temperature and pressure limit its practical application. In the present work, an electric field-promoting (EF-promoting) catalytic WAO process is developed to degrade dyes under room condition. The oxidation kinetics of four different types of dyes and their degradation pathways are studied. A kinetic model is constructed by including the exogenous electric field into the Langmuir-Hinshelwood-Hougen-Watson (LHHW) mechanism framework, and quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) analysis is conducted to correlate the kinetic parameters to the physicochemical properties of the dyes. A negative linear relationship is found between the adsorption equilibrium constants of the dyes and their first ionization energies, and their surface reaction rate constants are positively linearly associated to Esum (ELUMO + EHOMO). The degradation pathways of the different dyes are proposed according to the degradation intermediates and the activities of the atoms within the dye molecules. The heteroatoms N and S, and the atom C connecting the aromatic rings are identified as the susceptible sites upon the electrophilic attack of O2. Bond cleavage at these sites gives rise to aromatic fragments which are eventually mineralized via carboxyl acids. The results of this work is helpful for guiding the design and operation of the EF-promoting catalytic WAO process into the treatment of various dye wastewaters.

Ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry-based plasma metabolomics study of hepatoprotective effect of cuscutae semen on CCl4 -induced liver injury model of rats.

Hepatic disorders are a serious health problem threatening human beings. Cuscutae semen (CS), a widely used Chinese medicine, is a tonic to nourish the liver and kidney. Our research aimed to assess the hepatoprotective effect of CS on CCl4 -induced liver injury rats using plasma metabolomics. Liver injury in rats was induced by 40% CCl4 in olive oil twice a week for 21 days. The CS group received 2 g/kg of CS every day for 21 days. The liver tissues were used for histological studies. The serum was used for the analysis of biochemical parameters. Plasma metabolomic analysis was performed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. CS could relieve hepatocyte necrosis and decrease the levels of serum biochemical parameters in comparison the with CCl4 group. Principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis on plasma metabolomes showed an obvious separation among the control, model, and CS groups. Heatmap showed that CS-administered mice had similar metabolite profiles as the control group. Seven influential pathways in plasma of the hepatoprotective effect impacted by CS were identified. This study confirmed the hepatoprotective effect of CS, and the related metabolic pathways were discussed.

Specific recombinant proteins of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus are immunogenic, revealing their potential use as diagnostic markers.

Given the highly contagious and acute nature of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED), especially in piglets, there is an urgent need for the development of rapid and sensitive diagnostic assays. The diagnostic potentials of specific porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) accessory and nonstructural proteins, if any, have not yet been investigated. In order to determine and compare which of the viral proteins may be useful as diagnostic antigens, whole virus (WV) particles and a panel of structural and nonstructural PEDV proteins [spike subunit 1 (S1), the C-terminal part of ORF3 (ORF3C), envelope (E), nonstructural protein 1 (Nsp1), Nsp2, Ac (acidic domain of Nsp3), and ADRP (ADP-ribose-1-monophosphatase domain of Nsp3), expressed individually in bacterial and/or mammalian cells] were tested for reactivity with sera from PEDV-infected pigs by ELISA and/or western blot analysis. According to western blots, serum antibody interactions with the S1 protein were relatively more sensitive and specific than ORF3C, E and Ac. Furthermore, a total of 851 serum samples from diarrheal pigs of different ages were analyzed by ELISA, with most showing immune-reactivity towards the WV, S1, ORF3C, and E proteins. The earliest IgG antibody response was observed in the one-week-old piglets, with similar antibody ontogeny and patterns of seroconversion for S1, ORF3C, E, and WV antigens. In addition, the pattern of neutralizing antibody was more similar to that of IgA in weaning piglets after PEDV infection. Collectively, these data provide more reliable information on the host immune response to different viral proteins, which will be useful for development of novel serological assays and for design of vaccines that better stimulate protective immunity.

Comparative Studies on Chemical Contents and Effect in Kidney-Yang Deficiency Rats of Salt-Processed Product and Wine-Processed Product of Cuscutae Semen.

Cuscutae Semen mainly includes salt-processed product (SPP) and wine-processed product (WPP), which are most commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine. However, the differences between SPP and WPP have not been reported. In this paper, comparative studies between SPP and WPP on chemical contents and effect in kidney-yang deficiency rats have been investigated. UPLC-MS/MS was used to study the differences in chemical components. Kidney-yang deficiency was induced by hydrocortisone in rats. Rats were orally administrated with different doses of Jinkui Shenqi Pills, SPP, and WPP for 28 days. The average organ coefficients, renal function indexes, sex hormone levels, and testicular morphology were detected. As a result, the contents of flavonoids and chlorogenic acids were higher in SPP than in WPP, which may be caused by different processing methods. The improvement on reproduction of SPP was reflected in organ coefficients, renal function indexes, and biochemical properties of seminal plasma; furthermore, WPP was in sex hormone levels and morphology of testis. As a conclusion, these results indicated that both SPP and WPP can improve the reproductive function of kidney-yang deficiency rats with different mechanisms, which may be due to the differences in chemical contents between WPP and SPP as well as different processing methods. It is the first time that the differences between SPP and WPP have been studied in reproductive function in rats with kidney-yang deficiency.

Characterization of a novel bat-HKU2-like swine enteric alphacoronavirus (SeACoV) infection in cultured cells and development of a SeACoV infectious clone.

Swine enteric alphacoronavirus (SeACoV), also known as swine acute diarrhea syndrome coronavirus (SADS-CoV), belongs to the species Rhinolophus bat coronavirus HKU2. Herein, we report on the primary characterization of SeACoV in vitro. Four antibodies against the SeACoV spike, membrane, nucleocapsid and nonstructural protein 3 capable of reacting with viral antigens in SeACoV-infected Vero cells were generated. We established a DNA-launched SeACoV infectious clone based on the cell adapted passage-10 virus and rescued the recombinant virus with a unique genetic marker in cultured cells. Six subgenomic mRNAs containing the leader-body junction sites, including a bicistronic mRNA encoding the accessory NS7a and NS7b genes, were experimentally identified in SeACoV-infected cells. Cellular ultrastructural changes induced by SeACoV infection were visualized by electron microscopy. The availability of the SeACoV infectious clone and a panel of antibodies against different viral proteins will facilitate further studies on understanding the molecular mechanisms of SeACoV replication and pathogenesis.

Remarkable impact of steam temperature on ginsenosides transformation from fresh ginseng to red ginseng.

BACKGROUND: Temperature is an essential condition in red ginseng processing. The pharmacological activities of red ginseng under different steam temperatures are significantly different. METHODS: In this study, an ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry was developed to distinguish the red ginseng products that were steamed at high and low temperatures. Multivariate statistical analyses such as principal component analysis and supervised orthogonal partial least squared discrimination analysis were used to determine the influential components of the different samples. RESULTS: The results showed that different steamed red ginseng samples can be identified, and the characteristic components were 20-gluco-ginsenoside Rf, ginsenoside Re, ginsenoside Rg1, and malonyl-ginsenoside Rb1 in red ginseng steamed at low temperature. Meanwhile, the characteristic components in red ginseng steamed at high temperature were 20R-ginsenoside Rs3 and ginsenoside Rs4. Polar ginsenosides were abundant in red ginseng steamed at low temperature, whereas higher levels of less polar ginsenosides were detected in red ginseng steamed at high temperature. CONCLUSION: This study makes the first time that differences between red ginseng steamed under different temperatures and their ginsenosides transformation have been observed systematically at the chemistry level. The results suggested that the identified chemical markers can be used to illustrate the transformation of ginsenosides in red ginseng processing.

Chemical Comparison of Two Drying Methods of Mountain Cultivated Ginseng by UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS and Multivariate Statistical Analysis.

In traditional Chinese medicine practice, drying method is an essential factor to influence the components of Chinese medicinal herbs. In this study, an ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS)-based approach was used to compare the content of chemical compounds of mountain cultivated ginseng that had been natural air dried (LX-P) and vacuum freeze-dried (LX-L). Multivariate statistical analysis such as principal component analysis (PCA) and supervised orthogonal partial least squared discrimination analysis (OPLS-DA) were used to select the influential components of different samples. There were 41 ginsenosides unambiguously identified and tentatively assigned in both LX-L and LX-P. The results showed that the characteristic components in LX-P were ginsenoside Rb1, ginsenoside Rc, ginsenoside Rg6, dendrolasin, and ginsenoside Rb2. The characteristic components in LX-L were malonyl-ginsenoside Re, malonyl-ginsenoside Rb1, malonyl-ginsenoside Rc, malonyl-ginsenoside Rb1 isomer, malonyl-ginsenoside Rb2, malonyl-ginsenoside Rb3, malonyl-ginsenoside Rd isomer, gypenoside XVII, and notoginsenoside Fe. This is the first time that the differences between LX-L and LX-P have been observed systematically at the chemistry level. It was indicated that vacuum freeze-drying method can improve the content of malonyl-ginsensides in mountain cultivated ginseng.

[Analysis of color regulation of Fluoritum in Chinese Pharmacopoeia based on the coloration mechanism of Fluorite].

The fluoritum is used for gynecology frequently and it's for those diseases: kidney yang deficiency, Gong cold sterility, palpitation due to fright, insomnia and dreaminess and cold cough. It's ruled in Chinese Pharmacopoeia (1985 edition) that the fluoritum originates from fluorite which belongs to fluoride minerals. Its main content is CaF2. The colors are of differents grades with purple or green. In the market, there are large differences in quality and it has various colors. Besides of the ruled color of purple and green, white and yellow are also common colors. By digging into and analysis the relevant research literature of fluorite which belongs to fluoride minerals, colors and coloration mechanism of fluorite are summarized in this paper.Natural fluorite is the mineral which has the most species of colors in nature. The different colors of fluorite are mainly caused by the impurity elements. At present, there are mainly about the coloration mechanism of fluorite: rare earth ions (4fN ions), color center, inclusions, crystalline domains or sub microscopic inclusions. The green of fluorite is produced by 570 nm and 305 nm absorption peaks which are caused by Sm2+ and compensated ions Na+ centers generated color center. The yellow of fluorite is produced by the joining of transition element, resulting in the formation of charge transfer between the crystal ions and the formation of O2-O32- ion molecule.The black of fluorite, mainly was attributed to the existence of a higher degree of evolution of organic matter. In this passage,suggestions for modification of the properties of fluoritum in Chinese Pharmacopoeia are put forward.