Bioavailability transition path of phosphorus species during the sewage sludge incineration process.

Sewage sludge incineration ash (SSIA) is rich in phosphorus (P), thus being considered as a reliable source of phosphorus recovery. Different P species behaved significant bioavailability. Based on this, a comprehensive investigation into the bioavailability transition path of P species during sewage sludge (SS) incineration was conducted. P predominantly existed in the form of inorganic phosphorus (IP) in SS with a higher concentration of non-apatite inorganic phosphorus (NAIP) and less concentration of apatite inorganic phosphorus (AP). During the SS incineration process, OP existed in the flocs and cell structures of SS underwent destruction, the released P then combined with metal elements such as Ca, Mg, Fe, and Al to form AP species (Ca/Mg-P) and NAIP species (Fe/Al/Mn-P), and the NAIP decomposition to release into gas phase. This was the initial step for enhancing the bioavailability of P species. As temperature increased and the incineration process progressed, the low-temperature-resistant NAIP dissociated, and the metal-binding sites of Al, Fe and Mn in NAIP species were gradually replaced by the Ca and Mg thus forming thermal stability AP species (Ca/Mg-P, such as CaHPO4, Ca2PO4Cl, and Mg3(PO4)2 et al.). This step was crucial for the bioavailability improvement of P species during the incineration process. Therefore, the IP proportions in TP were extremely high (＞98%), and this value gradually increased as incineration temperature raised. The higher incineration temperature, the lower NAIP concentration and higher AP concentration. Besides, additives such as coal/rice husk/eggshell played a significant affect. Additives wither higher Ca content were inclined to react with P to form Ca/Mg-P (AP), while the presence of SO2 would react with Ca metals to form CaSO4 thus inhibiting the formation of AP species (such as CaHPO4 and CaPO4Cl). This results could provide theoretical support for the efficient and directional migration of P during sewage sludge incineration.

A Vectorial Current Density Imaging Method Based on Magnetic Gradient Tensor.

Magnetic current imaging is deemed an emerging powerful technique for visualizing electrical currents in electronic devices. However, the existing magnetic-field-based Fourier Transform back-evolution method is limited by its mono-function of imaging the magnitude of current density in devices under test, and subject to background noise distortion. Here, we developed a novel vectorial current density imaging method based on the detection of the magnetic field gradient generated by current carrying conductors. A closed form solution of current density inversion was analytically derived and numerically verified. Experiments were conducted by scanning tri-axial fluxgate sensor over different shapes of electrical wires. The results show that a current density resolution of 24.15 mA/mm2, probe-to-sample separation of 2 mm, and spatial resolution of 0.69 mm were achieved over a maximum scanning area of 300 mm × 300 mm. Such a method is verified to be capable of simultaneously imaging both magnitude and directions of current density, which is a promising technique for in situ noninvasive inspection for the power electronic and semiconductor industry.

A comparative metabolomics study of anthocyanins and taste components in Chinese bayberry (Morella rubra) with different flesh colors.

The Chinese bayberry (Morella rubra Sieb. et Zucc.) is grown commercially in China and other Asian countries for its flavorful and appealing fruit. Here, two bayberry varieties differing in both color and flavor, namely, BDK ('Baidongkui') and DK ('Dongkui'), in China were compared. A total of 18 anthocyanins, three proanthocyanidins, and 229 primary metabolites were identified in the pulp of the two varieties; these were analyzed and compared using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The DK pulp showed higher concentrations of all 18 anthocyanins compared with BDK, apart from peonidin-3,5-O-diglucoside which was not detected in BDK and which was responsible for the formation of pink pulp in BDK. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis of the primary metabolites indicated that the two bayberry varieties had distinct metabolite profiles with approximately 37% (85/229) of the primary metabolome being significantly different. Of these, 62 metabolites were down-regulated and 23 metabolites were up-regulated in BDK relative to DK. Our results suggested that the flavor of the BDK fruit was different from DK, which could be explained by the reduced saccharide, organic acid, amino acid, and proanthocyanidin contents. These findings enhance our understanding of the metabolites responsible for color and taste differences in the Chinese bayberry.

An Anthocyanin-Related Glutathione S-Transferase, MrGST1, Plays an Essential Role in Fruit Coloration in Chinese Bayberry (Morella rubra).

Chinese bayberry (Morella rubra) is a fruit tree economically important in China and accumulates abundant amounts of anthocyanins in fruit as it ripens. Owing to the fact that all anthocyanin containing fruit tissues in Chinese bayberry are edible and anthocyanins can provide various health benefits in human body, the mechanisms underpinning anthocyanin accumulation in this fruit are worthy of investigation. It has been known that in plants anthocyanins are synthesized in the cytoplasmic surface of the endoplasmic reticulum and subsequently transported into the vacuole for storage, and glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) have been verified to be involved in this process. But the characterization and functionalization of the GST counterpart in Chinese bayberry is not available. The GST anthocyanin transporter MrGST1 was discovered to be related with anthocyanin accumulation in fruit from distinct developmental stages of "Biqi," a staple cultivar that accumulates over 1 mg/g anthocyanins in ripe fruit. The expression of MrGST1 was well associated with anthocyanin accumulation either in fruit collected at six developmental stages or in ripe fruit from 12 cultivars. MrGST1 was found to be responsible for the transport of anthocyanins but not proanthocyanidins when the Arabidopsis tt19 mutant was functionally complemented. Transient ectopic expression of MrGST1 in combination with MrMYB1.1 and MrbHLH1 dramatically boosted pigmentation in Nicotiana tabacum leaves in contrast to MrMYB1.1 and MrbHLH1. The promoter of MrGST1 comprised eight MYB binding sites (MBSs) according to cis-element analysis. Data from yeast one-hybrid assay and dual-luciferase tests demonstrated that MrMYB1.1 exerted considerable transactivation effect on the MrGST1 promoter by recognizing the MBS4, the fourth MBS from the ATG start site. Our results together provided molecular evidence for the contribution of MrGST1 in regulating anthocyanin accumulation in Chinese bayberry fruit.

Identification and functional analysis of SWEET gene family in Averrhoa carambola L. fruits during ripening.

Sugar Will Eventually be Exported Transporters (SWEETs), a type of sugar efflux transporters, have been extensively researched upon due to their role in phloem loading for distant sugar transport, fruit development, and stress regulation, etc. Several plant species are known to possess the SWEET genes; however, little is known about their presence in Averrhoa Carambola L. (Oxalidaceae), an evergreen fruit crop (star fruit) in tropical and subtropical regions of Southeast Asia. In this study, we established an Averrhoa Carambola L. unigenes library from fruits of 'XianMiyangtao' (XM) by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). A total of 99,319 unigenes, each longer than 200 bp with a total length was 72.00 Mb, were identified. A total of 51,642 unigenes (52.00%) were annotated. Additionally, 10 AcSWEET genes from the Averrhoa Carambola L. unigenes library were identified and classified, followed by a comprehensive analysis of their structures and conserved motif compositions, and evolutionary relationships. Moreover, the expression patterns of AcSWEETs in 'XM' cultivars during fruit ripening were confirmed using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), combined with the soluble sugar and titratable acids content during ripening, showed that AcSWEET2a/2b and AcSWEET16b might participate in sugar transport during fruit ripening. This work presents a general profile of the AcSWEET gene family in Averrhoa Carambola L., which can be used to perform further studies on elucidating the functional roles of AcSWEET genes.

Retracted Article: Anti-inflammatory potency of Locusta migratoria manilensis cyclopeptides in mast cells and macrophages.

Locusts are esteemed as a traditional Chinese medicine, as well as tonic foods in Asian countries. While searching for natural anti-inflammatory agents in natural products, we isolated four novel locust cyclopeptides (LCPs) and the results show that [cyclo-(Trp-Leu-His-Thr)]∼LCP-3 has potent anti-inflammatory potency in RAW264.7 and HMC-1 cells under LPS (lipopolysaccharide) stimuli. Furthermore, mechanistic studies show that LCP-3 attenuates pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1ß, NO and PGE2) expression. Moreover, LCP-3 attenuates inflammatory damage associated with the direct inhibition of iNOS and COX-2 expression. LCP-3 also regulates the MAPK, PI3K/AKT and NF-κB pathways to attenuate LPS-induced damage. Of note, our study first reports the anti-inflammatory potency of LCPs and elucidates their underlying molecular mechanisms.

Functional analysis of differentially expressed proteins in Chinese bayberry (Myrica rubra Sieb. et Zucc.) fruits during ripening.

This study developed a proteome reference map of Myrica rubra fruits at the green, pink and red stages during ripening using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). Forty-six differentially expressed proteins were detected in the gel, of which 43 were successfully identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight/time-of-flight mass spectrometry and protein database searching. We found that malic enzyme related to the decrease of organic acid acidity was up-regulated. The high abundance of pyruvate decarboxylase and alcohol dehydrogenase may contribute to fruit peculiar fragrant characteristics. Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, chalcone synthase 11, UDP-glucose:flavonoid 3-O-glucosyltransferase, and anthocyanidin synthase, enzymes involved in the anthocyanin metabolic pathway, were all up-regulated. The physiological data agree with fruit proteome results. These findings provided insights into the metabolic processes and regulatory mechanisms during Chinese bayberry fruit ripening.