In vitro antifungal activity of lasiodiplodin, isolated from endophytic fungus Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae J-10 associated with Sarcandra glabra and optimization of culture conditions for lasiodiplodin production.

A macrolide antibiotic, lasiodiplodin was isolated from the endophytic fungus (EF) Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae J-10 associated with the medicinal plant Sarcandra glabra. In vitro antifungal assay demonstrated the inhibitory activity of lasiodiplodin against the growth of six phytopathogenic fungi, with the IC50 values ranging between 15.50 and 52.30 µg/mL. The highest antifungal activities were recorded against Exserohilum turcicum, Colletotrichum capsici, and Pestalotiopsis theae, with IC50 values of 15.50, 15.90, and 17.55 µg/mL, respectively. The underlying mechanism of the antifungal activity of lasiodiplodin against E. turcicum included the alteration of its colony morphology and disturbance of its cell membrane integrity. In addition, the optimization of L. pseudotheobromae J-10 culture conditions increased lasiodiplodin yield to 52.33 mg/L from 0.59 mg/L at pre-optimization. This is the first report on the isolation and identification of antifungal compound from the EF L. pseudotheobromae J-10 associated with S. glabra, as well as on the optimization of L. pseudotheobromae J-10 culture conditions to increase lasiodiplodin yield. The results of this study support that lasiodiplodin is a natural compound with high potential bioactivity against phytopathogens, and provide a basis for further study of the EF associated with S. glabra.

Screening of symbiotic Streptomyces spp. and optimization of microalgal growth in a microalgae-actinomycetes co-culture system.

Microalgal biodiesel as a substitute for fossil energy has attracted extensive attention. However, the high cost of microalgae cultivation limits the industrial production of microalgal biodiesel. The co-culture system may offer a means to increase microalgae's biomass production. In this study, Streptomyces strains were selected to construct and optimize co-culture systems with Monoraphidium sp. HDMA-11 and the algal cell biomass, lipid content, phycocyanin content, starch content, and fatty acid composition were determined. The results showed that Streptomyces nojiriensis significantly promoted Monoraphidium sp. HDMA-11 growth and a co-culture system were established. Orthogonal experiments showed that the Monoraphidium sp. HDMA-11 biomass was further increased when the initial culture pH was 7.5, the inoculation time of Streptomyces strain supernatants was 36 h, the volume ratio of microalgal actinomycetes was 1:1, and no additional acetic acid was added. Under these conditions, compared with monocultured Monoraphidium sp. HDMA-11, the cell biomass and lipid productivity of the co-culture system increased by 525.8 and 155.1%, respectively. These results suggest that S. nojiriensis supernatant potentially enhances microalgae biomass and may represent a new method to improve microalgae growth.

[Optimization of extraction process of Chuanxiong Rhizoma-Gastrodiae Rhizoma based on network pharmacology and multi-index orthogonal test].

To optimize the extraction process of Chuanxiong Rhizoma-Gastrodiae Rhizoma herb pair by network pharmacology combined with analytic hierarchy process(AHP)-entropy weight method and multi-index orthogonal test. The potential active components and targets of Chuanxiong Rhizoma-Gastrodiae Rhizoma were screened by network pharmacology and molecular docking, and the process evaluation indexes were determined with reference to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020 edition). The core components of Chuanxiong Rhizoma-Gastrodiae Rhizoma were determined as gastrodin, parishin B, parishin C, parishin E, ferulic acid, and 3-butylphthalide. With the extraction volume of each indicator and yield of dry extract as comprehensive evaluation indicators, the extraction conditions were optimized by the AHP-entropy weight method and orthogonal test as the ethanol volume of 50%, the solid-liquid ratio of 1∶8(g·mL~(-1)), extraction for three times, and 1.5 h each time. Through network pharmacology and molecular docking, the process evaluation index was determined, and the optimized process was stable and reproducible for the extraction of Chuanxiong Rhizoma-Gastrodiae Rhizoma herb pair, which could provide reference for in-depth research.

[Hot water washing processing technology of Euodiae Fructus based on change laws of active components and tastes].

In order to establish the standardized processing technology of the hot water washing of Euodiae Fructus, this study, based on the traditional processing method of hot water washing of Euodiae Fructus recorded in ancient works and modern processing specifications of traditional Chinese medicine decoction pieces, took the yield of decoction pieces and the content of main components as the indicators and optimized the processing conditions by orthogonal test based on the results of single factor investigation. At the same time, electronic tongue technology was used to analyze the change law of the taste index of Euodiae Fructus during the hot water washing. The results of the single factor investigation showed that the content of the main components in Euodiae Fructus showed some regular changes during the processing. Specifically, the content of chlorogenic acid, hyperin, isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside, isorhamnetin-3-O-galactoside, and dehydroevodiamine decreased significantly, with average decreases of-23.75%,-27.80%,-14.04%,-14.03%, and-13.11%, respectively. The content of limonin increased significantly with an average increase of 19.83%. The content of evodiamine, rutaecarpine, evocarpine, and dihydroevocarpine showed fluctuating changes and generally increased, with average variation amplitudes of 0.54%,-3.78%, 2.69%, and 5.13%, respectively. The orthogonal test results showed that the optimum processing parameters for the hot water washing of Euodiae Fructus were as follows: washing time of 2 min, the solid-to-liquid ratio of 1∶10 g·mL~(-1), washing temperature of 80 ℃, washing once, and drying at 50 ℃. After the hot water washing processing, the average yield of Euodiae Fructus pieces was 94.80%. The content of limonin, evodiamine, and rutaecarpine was higher than those of raw pro-ducts, and the average transfer rates were 102.56%, 103.15%, and 105.16%, respectively. The content of dehydroevodiamine was lower than that of the raw products, and the average transfer rate was 83.04%. The results of taste analysis showed that the hot water washing could significantly reduce the salty, astringent, and bitter tastes of Euodiae Fructus. This study revealed the influence of the hot water washing on the content of main components and taste of Euodiae Fructus, and the processing technology of the hot water was-hing of Euodiae Fructus established in this study was stable, feasible, and suitable for industrial production, which laid a foundation for clarifying its processing principle and improving the quality standard and clinical application value of decoction pieces.

An Improved WMS-2f/1f Spectral Fitting Method Using Orthogonal Test in Initial Parameters Selection.

This paper proposes an improved wavelength modulation spectroscopy with the 2nd harmonics normalized by the 1st harmonics (WMS-2f/1f) spectral fitting method using the orthogonal test in selection of the initial parameters. The method is implemented and validated experimentally in measurement of the temperature of diluted H2O in air (1 atm, 291K, 0.7%) by the WMS-2f/1f technique. The transition center wavelength targets near 1344 nm. Results demonstrate that the sum-square-error (SSE) between the calculated and measured WMS-2f/1f spectral profiles decreases significantly within given updating times when the optimized initial parameters are used. Compared to the conventional method, the optimized initial parameters can make the fitting routine converge more efficiently. The temperature of the vapor inferred from the proposed spectral fitting method are in good agreement with the true values.

Numerical Study and Optimal Design of the Butterfly Coil EMAT for Signal Amplitude Enhancement.

The low energy conversion efficiency of electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMATs) is a critical issue in nondestructive testing applications. To overcome this shortcoming, a butterfly coil EMAT was developed and optimized by numerical simulation based on a 2-D finite element model. First, the effect of the structural parameters of the butterfly coil EMAT was investigated by orthogonal test theory. Then, a modified butterfly coil EMAT was designed that consists of three-square permanent magnets with opposite polarity (TSPM-OP) to enhance the signal amplitude. Finally, the signal amplitude obtained from the three types of EMATs, that is, the traditional EMAT, the EMAT optimized by orthogonal test theory, and the modified EMAT with TSPM-OP, were analyzed and compared. The results show that the signal amplitude achieved by the modified butterfly coil EMAT with TSPM-OP can be increased by 4.97 times compared to the traditional butterfly coil EMAT.

Optimization Design of Surface Wave Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducers Based on Simulation Analysis and Orthogonal Test Method.

The energy conversion of electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMATs) is typically lower, which seriously restricts the application of EMATs in the field of non-destructive testing and evaluation. In this work, parameters of surface wave EMATs, including structural parameters and electrical parameters, are investigated using the orthogonal test method to improve the transducer's energy conversion efficiency. Based on the established finite element 2-D model of EMATs, the amplitude of the displacement components at the observation point of a plate is the optimization objective to be maximized with five parameters pertaining to the magnets, meander-line coils, and excitation signal as design variables. Results show that the signal amplitude of EMATs is 3.48 times on in-plane and 3.49 times on out-of-plane, respectively, compared with the original model. Furthermore, a new material (amorphous nanocrystalline material of type 1K107) is applied to optimize the magnetic circuit of EMATs and enhance the eddy current in an aluminum plate to increase the signal amplitude. Finally, the signal amplitudes obtained from the three types of models, that is, the original one, the optimization one after an orthogonal test, and the optimization one with the addition of magnetic concentrators, are analyzed and compared, indicating that the signal amplitude, compared with the original one, is 6.02 times on in-plane and 6.20 times on out-of-plane, respectively.

[Optimization of processing technology of wine-processed Polygonati Rhizoma based on orthogonal test and AHP-comprehensive scoring method and comparison of immunomodulation functions of Polygonati Rhizoma processed with different methods].

This study employed orthogonal design and AHP-comprehensive scoring method to optimize the processing technology of wine-processed Polygonati Rhizoma, and then explored the immunomodulation performance of the product. Orthogonal test was established based on single factor test results to study the effects of soaking time, steaming time, and drying temperature on the quality of wine-processed Polygonati Rhizoma. Further, the analytic hierarchy process(AHP) and comprehensive scoring method were employed to determine the optimum processing parameters. The immunosuppression model of mice was established by injecting cyclophosphamide intraperitoneally. The body weight, immune organ index, and white blood cell count(WBC) and red blood cell count(RBC) in peripheral blood were compared between the mice administrated with the non-processed Polygonati Rhizoma and the wine-processed Polygonati Rhizoma prepared with modern and traditional methods. Further, the levels of interleukin-2(IL-2) and interferon-gamma(IFN-γ) in serum were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) for comparison. The processing parameters were optimized as follows: soaking in Chinese rice wine for 10 h, steaming for 20 h, and drying thick slices at 60 ℃. The wine-processed Polygonati Rhizoma prepared with both modern and traditional methods can significantly enhance the immune function, with similar performance. The optimized processing technology of wine-processed Polygonati Rhizoma is stable and feasible and the product prepared with this process has obvious immune-enhancing effect, which provides a basis for the quality standard formulation and the modern research of wine-processed Polygonati Rhizoma.

[Optimization of extraction process of Congrong Shujing Granules based on AHP-CRITIC analysis].

The index weight coefficients were determined by comparing the analytic hierarchy process(AHP), the criteria importance through inter-criteria correlation(CRITIC), and the AHP-CRITIC mixed weighting method. The comprehensive scores of index components(echinacoside, salvianolic acid B, paeoniflorin, and ointment yield) of each group in the orthogonal test were compared to optimize the extraction process of Congrong Shujing Granules. The results showed that the AHP-CRITIC mixed weighting method scientifically optimized the extraction process. To be specific, the decoction pieces should be added with the 6-fold amount of water and extracted twice, 1 h each time. After three verification tests, the average mass fractions of echinacoside, salvianolic acid B, and paeoniflorin were 0.72, 9.34, and 5.92 mg·g~(-1), respectively, and the average ointment yield was 47.18%. As verified by the AHP-CRITIC mixed weighting method and the orthogonal test, the optimized extraction process of Congrong Shujing Granules was stable and feasible and could be applied to industrial production.

[Processing technology of rice-steamed Rehmanniae Radix unearthed from tomb of Haihunhou in the Western Han Dynasty].

With the rice-steamed Rehmanniae Radix unearthed from the tomb of Haihunhou in the Western Han Dynasty as the re-ference, the present study evaluated the quality of Rehmanniae Radix and investigated the processing technology of rice-steamed Rehmanniae Radix to lay the foundation for the research on rice-steamed Rehmanniae Radix products. With catalpol and rehmannioside D as the investigation indexes, the quality and grade of Rehmanniae Radix from different producing areas were evaluated with the methods in 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia. UPLC method was established for the determination of catalpol and rehmannioside D in the rice-steamed Rehmanniae Radix. The effects of steaming time, the amount of supplementary rice, and steaming times in the rice-steamed processing on the quality of products were investigated by L_9(3~4) orthogonal test and multi-index comprehensive balance scoring method combined with the content of catalpol and rehmannioside D and appearance characteristics. At last, the stability of the processing technology was tested. The results showed that the optimal processing technology for rice-steamed Rehmanniae Radix was as follows: Rehmanniae Radix and rice(200 g∶4 g) were steamed twice at atmospheric pressure, four hours each time. The mass fractions of catalpol and rehmannioside D were 0.184% and 0.335%, respectively, and the character score was 6.5. The processing conditions are reaso-nable, stable, and feasible. It can provide a basis for the restoration of the ancient rice-steamed processing technology and references for the development of rice-steamed Rehmanniae Radix products in the future.

Structural geometries and mechanical properties of vertebral implant with honeycomb sandwich structure for vertebral compression fractures: a finite element analysis.

BACKGROUND: Because of osteoporosis, traffic accidents, falling from high places, and other reasons, the vertebral body can be compressed and even collapse. Vertebral implants can be used for clinical treatment. Because of the advantages of honeycomb sandwich structures, such as low cost, less material, light weight, high strength, and good cushioning performance. In this paper, the honeycomb sandwich structure was used as the basic structure of vertebral implants. METHODS: The orthogonal experiment method is applied to analyse the size effect of honeycomb sandwich structures by the finite element method. Based on the minimum requirements of three indexes of peak stress, axial deformation, and anterior-posterior deformation, the optimal structure size was determined. Furthermore, through local optimization of the overall structure of the implant, a better honeycomb sandwich structure vertebral implant was designed. RESULTS: The optimal structure size combination was determined as a panel thickness of 1 mm, wall thickness if 0.49 mm, cell side length of 1 mm, and height of 6 mm. Through local optimization, the peak stress was further reduced, the overall stress distribution was uniform, and the deformation was reduced. The optimized peak stress decreased to 1.041 MPa, the axial deformation was 0.1110%, and the anterior-posterior deformation was 0.0145%. A vertebral implant with good mechanical performance was designed. CONCLUSIONS: This paper is the first to investigate vertebral implants with honeycomb sandwich structures. The design and analysis of the vertebral implant with a honeycomb sandwich structure were processed by the finite element method. This research can provide a feasible way to analyse and design clinical implants based on biomechanical principles.

[Processing technology for reducing toxicity of fried Tripterygium wilfordii in Lysimachia christinae decoction].

On the basis of the previous work of the research group, the orthogonal design method was further used to optimize the processing technology for reducing toxicity of fried Tripterygium wilfordii in Lysimachia christinae Decoction. A total of 9 processed products of T.wilfordii in L.christinae decoction were prepared by four factors and three levels orthogonal design table. The contents of triptolide in T.wilfordii were determined by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) before and after processing: 4.27, 3.92, 3.57, 2.75, 2.42, 2.66, 3.51, 1.87, 1.75, 2.03 µg·g~(-1). On this basis, the above processed products were orally given to mice for 28 days. 12 hours after the last administration, food fasting except water was provided, and 24 hours later, the eyeballs were taken for blood and liver tissue. Serum biochemical indexes, liver lipid peroxidation and antioxidant related indexes were detected by kit method. Twenty-eight days after oral administration of raw T.wilfordii, the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), alkaline phosphatase(ALP) and liver malondialdehyde(MDA) in mice increased by 91%(P<0.01), 46%(P<0.05), 73%(P<0.01) and 99%(P<0.01), while the liver antioxidant indexes such as superoxide dismutase(SOD), glutathione(GSH), glutathione peroxidase(GPX) and glutathione-S transferase(GST) significantly decreased(P<0.01). After administration of the processed products, the above indexes were significantly reversed(P<0.01 or P<0.05). Especially, the processing conditions of A_3B_2C_1D_3 had the best detoxification effect on T.wilfordii, which decreased the high levels of AST, ALT, ALP and MDA by 49%(P<0.01), 32%(P<0.01), 42%(P<0.01), and 17%(P<0.05). Therefore, the best processing conditions for T.wilfordii in L.christinae decoction were A_3B_2C_1D_3, namely "15% mass fraction of L.christinae, 1 h moistening time, 160 ℃ frying temperature, and 9 min frying time".

Orthogonal Test Design for Optimization of the Extraction of Polysaccharides from Inonotus cuticularis and Their Antioxidant Activities.

Medical fungi polysaccharides belong to a very important species of biological macromolecules, which are the basic substances that effectively maintain and ensure the normal operation of biological life activities. However, research on extraction and biological activity of Inonotus cuticularis polysaccharides has never been reported. In this study, the optimum yield of Inonotus cuticularis polysaccharides was determined by the orthogonal experimental design. The highest yield of 3.10±0.06 % was obtained with extraction temperature of 80 °C, extraction time of 150 min, and water to raw material ratio of 30 mL/g and repeated twice. After deproteinization for 5 times, the protein removal rate reached 70.10±1.75 %, and the content of polysaccharides and protein were 46.64 and 0.42 %. Infrared spectrometer indicated that Inonotus cuticularis polysaccharides are typical ß-pyranose with characteristic peaks of polysaccharides. Subsequently, the activities of scavenging free radicals for the deproteinated polysaccharides were studied. When the concentration of Inonotus cuticularis polysaccharides was 0.3 mg/mL, the scavenging activities of the sample on DPPH. , . OH, ABTS.+ and O2 .- reached 83.67±0.27, 65.21±4.82, 43.45±1.36 and 80.28±2.30 %, respectively, and the reducing power reached 0.46±0.01. The IC50 values scavenging DPPH. , . OH, ABTS.+ and O2 .- were 0.139±0.13, 0.162±0.14, 0.317±0.30 and 0.121±0.10 mg/mL, respectively. Results showed that Inonotus cuticularis polysaccharides present potential stronger antioxidant activities, especially .OH scavenging activity and reducing power. Experimental results could provide research basis of Inonotus cuticularis polysaccharides for further exploitation and utilization.

Investigation of the Effect of Process Parameters on Bone Grinding Performance Based on On-Line Measurement of Temperature and Force Sensors.

This study investigates the effect of process parameters on neurosurgical bone grinding performance using a miniature surgical diamond wheel. Bone grinding is an important procedure in the expanded endonasal approach for removing the cranial bone and access to the skull base tumor via nasal corridor. Heat and force are generated during the grinding process, which may cause thermal and mechanical damage to the adjacent tissues. This study investigates the effect of grinding process parameters (including the depth of cut, feed rate, and spindle speed) on the bone grinding performance using temperature and force measurement sensors in order to optimize the grinding process. An orthogonal experimental design with a standard orthogonal array, L9 (33), is selected with each parameter in three levels. The experimental results have been statistically analyzed using the range and variance analysis methods in order to determine the importance order of the process parameters. The results indicate that the effect of the cutting depth on the grinding temperature and normal force is the largest, while the effect of the spindle speed on the tangential force is the largest. A high spindle speed would make the temperature rise to a certain extent; however, it significantly reduces the grinding force. At a certain spindle speed, a lower depth of cut and feed rate help to reduce the grinding temperature and force.

Mechanical Properties and Fracture Behavior of Crumb Rubber Basalt Fiber Concrete Based on Acoustic Emission Technology.

Basalt fiber and crumb rubber, as excellent road material modifiers, have great advantages in improving the mechanical properties and fracture behavior of concrete. Acoustic emission (AE) is a nondestructive testing and real-time monitoring technique used to characterize the fracture behavior of concrete specimens. The object of this paper is to investigate the effects of crumb rubber replacement rate, basalt fiber content and water-binder ratio on the mechanical properties and fracture behavior of crumb rubber basalt fiber concrete (CRBFC) based on orthogonal test. The fracture behavior of a CRBFC specimen under three-point flexural conditions was monitored by AE technology and the relative cumulative hit (RCH) was defined to characterize the internal damage degree of CRBFC. The experimental results showed that, considering the mechanical strength and fracture damage behavior of CRBFC, the optimal crumb rubber replacement rate, basalt fiber content and water-binder ratio are 10%, 2 kg/m3 and 0.46, respectively. In addition, it was found that AE parameters can effectively characterize the fracture behavior of CRBFC. The fracture stages of CRBFC can be divided according to the cumulative AE hits and counts. AE amplitude value can be used as an early warning of CRBFC specimen fracture. Moreover, the fracture mode can be identified by RA and average frequency (AF) values variation during the loading process.

A Long-Day Photoperiod and 6-Benzyladenine Promote Runner Formation through Upregulation of Soluble Sugar Content in Strawberry.

Commercial strawberries are mainly propagated using daughter plants produced on aerial runners because asexual propagation is faster than seed propagation, and daughter plants retain the characteristics of the mother plant. This study was conducted to investigate the effective factors for runner induction, as well as the molecular mechanisms behind the runner induction. An orthogonal test with 4 factors (photoperiod, temperature, gibberellin, and 6-benzyladenine), each with 3 levels was performed. Proteins were also extracted from the crowns with or without runners and separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis. The results of the orthogonal test showed that a long-day (LD) environment was the most influential factor for the runner formation, and 50 mg·L-1 of 6-BA significantly increased the number of runners. A proteomic analysis revealed that 32 proteins were differentially expressed (2-fold, p < 0.05) in the strawberry crowns with and without runners. A total of 16 spots were up-regulated in the crowns with runners induced by LD treatment. Identified proteins were classified into seven groups according to their biological roles. The most prominent groups were carbohydrate metabolism and photosynthesis, which indicated that the carbohydrate content may increase during runner formation. A further analysis demonstrated that the soluble sugar content was positively correlated with the number of runners. Thus, it is suggested that the photoperiod and 6-BA break the dormancy of the axillary buds and produce runners by increasing the soluble sugar content in strawberry.

Enhanced performance of pilot-scale hybrid constructed wetlands with A/O reactor in raw domestic sewage treatment.

The aim of this study was to improve the nutrient removal efficiency by optimizing aeration time, hydraulic loading rate (HLR) and combination type in hybrid constructed wetlands (HCWs) with anoxic/oxic (A/O) reactor. The results showed that, the highest removal percentages of TN, NH4-N, TP, PO4-P and COD were 87.9%, 98.1%, 86.1%, 85.3% and 95.2%, respectively, in horizontal subsurface flow (HF) - surface flow - vertical subsurface flow CW with A/O reactor at 0.1 m/d HLR and 2 h aeration. HLR, aeration time and combination type had a significant impact on the removal of nutrients, though plant diversity did not have any significant influence. Presence of the A/O reactor improved the removal of TN in the HCWs by reducing influent loading and changing influent characteristics, thereby affecting the role of nitrification, anammox, and denitrification processes. The anammox process was the dominant pathway in the 1st HF CWs during the aeration period, where the highest removal of phosphorus was observed.

[Preparation of curcumin TPP-PEG-PE nanomicelles with mitochondrial targeting and lysosomal escape functions and its effect on promoting breast cancer cell apoptosis].

Orthogonal experiments were used to optimize the process parameters of curcumin TPP-PEG-PCL nanomicelles; the particle size, electric potential and morphology under the electron microscope were systematically detected for the curcumin TPP-PEG-PCL nanomicelles; and the stability and in vitro release of the curcumin TPP-PEG-PCL nanomicelles were investigated. With DID fluorescent dye as the fluorescent probe, flow cytometry was used to study the uptake of nanomicelles by breast cancer cells, and laser confocal microscopy was used to study the mitochondrial targeting and lysosomal escape functions of nanomicelles. Under the same dosage conditions, the effect of curcumin TPP-PEG-PCL nanomicelles on promoting the apoptosis of breast cancer cells was evaluated. The optimal particle size of curcumin TPP-PEG-PCL nanomicelle was(17.3±0.3) nm, and the Zeta potential was(14.6±2.6) mV in orthogonal test. Under such conditions, the micelle appeared as regular spheres under the transmission electron microscope. Fluorescence test results showed that TPP-PEG-PCL nanomicelles can promote drug uptake by tumor cells, escape from lysosomal phagocytosis, and target the mitochondria. The cell survival rate and Hoechst staining positive test results showed that curcumin TPP-PEG-PCL nanomicelles had a good effect on promoting apoptosis of breast cancer cells. The curcumin TPP-PEG-PCL micelles can significantly reduce the mitochondrial membrane potential of breast cancer cells, increase the release of cytochrome C, significantly increase the expression of pro-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and reduce the expression of anti-apoptotic Bax protein. These test results were significantly better than those of curcumin PEG-PCL nanomicelles and curcumin, with statistically significant differences. The results revealed that curcumin TPP-PEG-PCL nanomicelles can well target breast cancer cell mitochondria and escape from the lysosomal capture, thereby enhancing the drug's role in promoting tumor cell apoptosis.

Simultaneous determination of boscalid and fludioxonil in grape and soil under field conditions by gas chromatography/tandem triple quadrupole mass spectrometry.

A gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated to simultaneously determine boscalid and fludioxonil in grape and soil samples. These samples were extracted with 10 mL of acetonitrile and purified using a mixed primary secondary amine/octadecylsilane sorbent. The method showed good linearity (R2 > 0.99) in the calibration range 0.005-2 µg/mL for both pesticides. The limits of detection and quantification for the two analytes in grape and soil were 0.006 and 0.02 mg/kg, respectively. Fungicide recoveries in grape and soil were 81.18-92.11% for boscalid and 82.73-97.67% for fludioxonil with relative standard deviations of 1.31-10.31%. The established method was successfully applied to the residual analysis of boscalid and fludioxonil in real grape and soil samples. The terminal residue concentrations of boscalid and fludioxonil in grape samples collected from Anhui and Guizhou were <5 mg/kg (the maximum residue limit set by China) 7 days after the last application and 1 mg/kg (the maximum residue limit set by USA) 14 days after the last application. These results could provide guidance for the proper and safe use of boscalid and fludioxonil in grape and help the Chinese government to establish an MRL for fludioxonil in grape.

Enantioseparation and determination of dufulin enantiomers in cucumber and soil by chiral liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A simple and rapid method for enantioselective determination of dufulin in cucumber and soil was developed by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. The enantiomers were separated on a Superchiral S-OD chiral cellulose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) column at 20°C, with a mixture of acetonitrile and water (0.1% formic acid; 52:48, v/v) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.65 mL/min. The pretreatment conditions were optimized using an orthogonal test, and the optimized method showed good linearity and sensitivity. The limits of detection and limits of quantification of two dufulin enantiomers were 0.006 and 0.02 mg/kg, respectively. The average recoveries of S-enantiomer and R-enantiomer in cucumber and soil were 80.61-99.83% and 80.97-102.96%, respectively, with relative standard deviations of 1.30-9.72%. The method was successfully applied to determine dufulin in real cucumber and soil samples. The results demonstrate that the method could facilitate further research on the differences between individual dufulin enantiomers with respect to metabolites and environmental fate and finally help reveal the complex interactions that exist between dufulin, humans and the environment.