Similarity recognition approach to identify zero-added MSG soy sauce using stable isotopes and amino acid profiles

Seasonings such as naturally fermented soy sauce without added monosodium glutamate (MSG), are currently a growth market in China. However, fraudulent and mislabeled zero-added MSG soy sauce may cause a risk of excessive MSG intake, increasing food safety issues for consumers. This study investigates stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes and 16 amino acids in typical Chinese in-market soy sauces and uses a similarity method to establish criteria to authenticate MSG addition claims. Results reveal most zero-added MSG soy sauces had lower δ13C values (−25.2 ‰ to −17.7 ‰) and glutamic acid concentrations (8.97 mg mL−1 to 34.76 mg mL−1), and higher δ15N values (−0.27 ‰ +0.95 ‰) and other amino acid concentrations than added-MSG labeled samples. A combined approach, using isotopes, amino acids, similarity coefficients and uncertainty values, was evaluated to rapidly and accurately identify zero-added MSG soy sauces from MSG containing counterparts.Universidade de Vigo/CISU

Effects of Reservoir Mainstream on Longitudinal Zonation in Reservoir Bays

Spatial longitudinal zonation in reservoir bays is poorly documented, and most published papers considered that longitudinal zonation in bays is similar to that in reservoirs. Our results from analyses of the benthic macroinvertebrate community in the bays of the Three-Gorges Reservoir, China, showed that a typical bay contains four distinct zones-one more zones than a reservoir. This newly distinguished zone lies along the mouth stretch of a reservoir bay, and we call it a mainstream zone because it is disturbed by the reservoir mainstream. The mainstream zone is characterized by a lower standing crop and a more unstable macroinvertebrate community than in the lacustrine zone. Longitudinal zonation of reservoir bays is related to their lengths, and lacustrine zones develop only where the bay is sufficiently long. Similar to reservoirs, longitudinal zonation in bays is also dynamic and is to some extent influenced by the ages of bays and seasons

Seasonal dynamics of suspended solids in a giant subtropical reservoir (China) in relation to internal processes and hydrological features

To explore the factors regulating seasonal variation of total suspended solids (TSS) and its two fractions in a giant dendritic reservoir (the Three-Gorges Reservoir of China, TGR) in the subtropical monsoon region, suspended solids, chlorophyll a (a surrogate for lake internal processes) and water residence time (an index of hydrologic flushing) were examined monthly from August 2005 to July 2006. TSS ranged from 0.6 to 200.3 mg/L and from 0.6 to 78 mg/L respectively in the mainstream and in a typical reservoir-bay (the Xiangxi Bay) of the TGR,. TSS exhibited a typical seasonal pattern in the mainstream rather than in the Xiangxi Bay of the TGR. The fraction of non-volatile suspended solids (NVSS) was often more dominant in the mainstream than in the Xiangxi Bay, especially during the flood season. Regressions analysis showed that 87.6% and 89.8% of seasonal variation in TSS and NVSS of the mainstream, respectively, are explained by water residence time. In contrast, suspended solids (particularly volatile suspended solids, VSS) of the Xiangxi Bay displayed significant correlation with algal biomass, and no correlation with hydrological parameters. It implies that the Xiangxi Bay was a more autochthonous system than the mainstream of the TGR where exogenous influences were the more determinant factors. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved

Pressure-stabilized divalent ozonide CaO3 and its impact on Earth's oxygen cycles.

High pressure can drastically alter chemical bonding and produce exotic compounds that defy conventional wisdom. Especially significant are compounds pertaining to oxygen cycles inside Earth, which hold key to understanding major geological events that impact the environment essential to life on Earth. Here we report the discovery of pressure-stabilized divalent ozonide CaO3 crystal that exhibits intriguing bonding and oxidation states with profound geological implications. Our computational study identifies a crystalline phase of CaO3 by reaction of CaO and O2 at high pressure and high temperature conditions; ensuing experiments synthesize this rare compound under compression in a diamond anvil cell with laser heating. High-pressure x-ray diffraction data show that CaO3 crystal forms at 35 GPa and persists down to 20 GPa on decompression. Analysis of charge states reveals a formal oxidation state of -2 for ozone anions in CaO3. These findings unravel the ozonide chemistry at high pressure and offer insights for elucidating prominent seismic anomalies and oxygen cycles in Earth's interior. We further predict multiple reactions producing CaO3 by geologically abundant mineral precursors at various depths in Earth's mantle

Temporal Asynchrony of Trophic Status Between Mainstream and Tributary Bay Within a Giant Dendritic Reservoir: The Role of Local-Scale Regulators

Limnologists have regarded temporal coherence (synchrony) as a powerful tool for identifying the relative importance of local-scale regulators and regional climatic drivers on lake ecosystems. Limnological studies on Asian reservoirs have emphasized that climate and hydrology under the influences of monsoon are dominant factors regulating seasonal patterns of lake trophic status; yet, little is known of synchrony or asynchrony of trophic status in the single reservoir ecosystem. Based on monthly monitoring data of chlorophyll a, transparency, nutrients, and nonvolatile suspended solids (NVSS) during 1-year period, the present study evaluated temporal coherence to test whether local-scale regulators disturb the seasonal dynamics of trophic state indices (TSI) in a giant dendritic reservoir, China (Three Gorges Reservoir, TGR). Reservoir-wide coherences for TSICHL, TSISD, and TSITP showed dramatic variations over spatial scale, indicating temporal asynchrony of trophic status. Following the concept of TSI differences, algal productivity in the mainstream of TGR and Xiangxi Bay except the upstream of the bay were always limited by nonalgal turbidity (TSICHL−TSISD <0) rather than nitrogen and phosphorus (TSICHL−TSITN <0 and TSICHL−TSITP <0). The coherence analysis for TSI differences showed that local processes of Xiangxi Bay were the main responsible for local asynchrony of nonalgal turbidity limitation levels. Regression analysis further proved that local temporal asynchrony for TSISD and nonalgal turbidity limitation levels were regulated by local dynamics of NVSS, rather than geographical distance. The implications of the present study are to emphasize that the results of trophic status obtained from a single environment (reservoir mainstream) cannot be extrapolated to other environments (tributary bay) in a way that would allow its use as a sentinel site

Synthesis and Properties of Biodegradable Hydrogel Based on Polysaccharide Wound Dressing

The metabolic disorder of the wound microenvironment can lead to a series of serious symptoms, especially chronic wounds, which result in significant pain in patients. At present, there is no effective and widely used wound dressing. Therefore, it is important to develop new multifunctional wound dressings. Hydrogel is an ideal wound dressing for medical nursing because of its abilities to absorb exudate and maintain wound wetting, its excellent biocompatibility, and its ability to provide a moist environment for wound repair. Because of these features, hydrogel overcomes the shortcomings of traditional dressings. Therefore, hydrogel has high medical value and is widely studied. In this study, a biodegradable hydrogel based on polysaccharide was synthesized and used as a wound dressing. The swelling degree and degradability of hydrogel were characterized as the characteristics of the wound dressing. The results showed that the prepared hydrogel was degraded with trypsin and in the soil environment. Furthermore, the wound dressing can effectively inhibit the bacterial environment, promote the deposition of the collagen structure of the wound tissue, and accelerate the healing of the wound. The proposed hydrogel has value in practical medical nursing application

Retroperitoneal laparoscopic partial nephrectomy with segmental renal artery clamping for cancer of the left upper calyx: a case report

Abstract Background Currently, the standard treatment for renal pelvis carcinoma is radical nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff excision. To describe the feasibility of retroperitoneal laparoscopic partial nephrectomy with segmental renal artery clamping for cancer of renal pelvis, we report this special case for the first time. Case presentation A 67-year-old woman received this operation. Preoperative ureteroscopy revealed a papillary neoplasm with a pedicle in the upper calyx of the left kidney. After entering the retroperitoneal space and dissociating the renal artery and renal vein, the target artery was clamped beyond the final bifurcation before entering the parenchyma. After incision of the left renal parenchyma and exposure of the upper calyceal neck, the tumor was found confined to the upper calyx. Thereafter, the renal calyx and parenchyma were sutured successively after complete resection of the neoplasm. Postoperative pathological examination confirmed that the Grade I papillary carcinoma was confined to the mucosal layer. Thus far, there is no evidence of recurrence during the follow-up period for more than 42 months after surgery. Conclusions Retroperitoneal laparoscopic partial nephrectomy with segmental renal artery clamping of the kidney provides a feasible treatment modality for noninvasive tumors that are limited to the calyx

Seasonal dynamics of suspended solids in a giant subtropical reservoir (China) in relation to internal processes and hydrological features

To explore the factors regulating seasonal variation of total suspended solids (TSS) and its two fractions in a giant dendritic reservoir (the Three-Gorges Reservoir of China, TGR) in the subtropical monsoon region, suspended solids, chlorophyll a (a surrogate for lake internal processes) and water residence time (an index of hydrologic flushing) were examined monthly from August 2005 to July 2006. TSS ranged from 0.6 to 200.3 mg/L and from 0.6 to 78 mg/L respectively in the mainstream and in a typical reservoir-bay (the Xiangxi Bay) of the TGR,. TSS exhibited a typical seasonal pattern in the mainstream rather than in the Xiangxi Bay of the TGR. The fraction of non-volatile suspended solids (NVSS) was often more dominant in the mainstream than in the Xiangxi Bay, especially during the flood season. Regressions analysis showed that 87.6% and 89.8% of seasonal variation in TSS and NVSS of the mainstream, respectively, are explained by water residence time. In contrast, suspended solids (particularly volatile suspended solids, VSS) of the Xiangxi Bay displayed significant correlation with algal biomass, and no correlation with hydrological parameters. It implies that the Xiangxi Bay was a more autochthonous system than the mainstream of the TGR where exogenous influences were the more determinant factors. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved