Effects of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate and quercetin on the activity and structure of α-amylase

Purpose: To investigate the effects of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and quercetin on the activity and structure of α-amylase. Methods: The inhibitory effects of 7 functional factors were compared by measuring half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values. Lineweaver-Burk plots were used to determine the type of inhibition exerted by EGCG and quercetin against α-amylase. The effect of EGCG and quercetin on the conformation of α-amylase was investigated using fluorescence spectroscopy. Results: Quercetin and EGCG inhibited α-amylase with IC50 values of 1.36 and 0.31 mg/mL, respectively, which were much lower than the IC50 values of the other compounds (puerarin, paeonol, konjac glucomannan and polygonatum odoratum polysaccharide). The Lineweaver−Burk plots indicated that EGCG and quercetin inhibited α-amylase competitively, with ki values of 0.23 and 1.28 mg/mL, respectively. Fluorescence spectroscopy revealed that treatment with EGCG and quercetin led to formation of a loosely-structured hydrophobic hydration layer. Conclusion: This study has unraveled the mechanism underlying the inhibition of α-amylase activity by EGCG and quercetin in vitro. This should make for better understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the antidiabetic effects of EGCG and quercetin in vivo

Analysis of significant factors on cable failure using the Cox proportional hazard model

This paper proposes the use of the Cox proportional hazard model (Cox PHM), a statistical model, for the analysis of early-failure data associated with power cables. The Cox PHM analyses simultaneously a set of covariates and identifies those which have significant effects on the cable failures. In order to demonstrate the appropriateness of the model, relevant historical failure data related to medium voltage (MV, rated at 10 kV) distribution cables and High Voltage (HV, 110 kV and 220 kV) transmission cables have been collected from a regional electricity company in China. Results prove that the model is more robust than the Weibull distribution, in that failure data does not have to be homogeneous. Results also demonstrate that the method can single out a case of poor manufacturing quality with a particular cable joint provider by using a statistical hypothesis test. The proposed approach can potentially help to resolve any legal dispute that may arise between a manufacturer and a network operator, in addition to providing guidance for improving future practice in cable procurement, design, installations and maintenance

Modeling redistribution of α-HCH in Chinese soil induced by environment factors

This study explores long-term environmental fate of alpha-HCH in China from 1952 to 2007 using ChnGPERM (Chinese Gridded Pesticide Emission and Residue Model). The model captures well the temporal and spatial variations of alpha-HCH concentration in Chinese soils by comparing with a number of measured data across China in different periods. The results demonstrate alpha-HCH grasshopping effect in Eastern China and reveal several important features of the chemical in Northeast and Southeast China. It is found that Northeast China is a prominent sink region of alpha-HCH emitted from Chinese sources and alpha-HCH contamination in Southwest China is largely attributed to foreign sources. Southeast China is shown to be a major source contributing to alpha-HCH contamination in Northeast China, incurred by several environmental factors including temperature, soil organic carbon content, wind field and precipitation. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.This study explores long-term environmental fate of alpha-HCH in China from 1952 to 2007 using ChnGPERM (Chinese Gridded Pesticide Emission and Residue Model). The model captures well the temporal and spatial variations of alpha-HCH concentration in Chinese soils by comparing with a number of measured data across China in different periods. The results demonstrate alpha-HCH grasshopping effect in Eastern China and reveal several important features of the chemical in Northeast and Southeast China. It is found that Northeast China is a prominent sink region of alpha-HCH emitted from Chinese sources and alpha-HCH contamination in Southwest China is largely attributed to foreign sources. Southeast China is shown to be a major source contributing to alpha-HCH contamination in Northeast China, incurred by several environmental factors including temperature, soil organic carbon content, wind field and precipitation. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Lithium niobate-enhanced laser photoacoustic spectroscopy

In this paper, the photoacoustic spectroscopy technique based on lithium niobate crystals is initially reported, to our knowledge. A novel dual-cantilever tuning fork structure and new electrodes have been designed using Y-cut 128{\deg} blackened lithium niobate wafers. The tuning fork, with a resonant frequency of only 10.46 kHz and a prong gap of 1 mm, is engineered to achieve superior performance in photoacoustic spectroscopy. In the demonstration experiment, acetylene was detected using a 1.53 um semiconductor laser, achieving a detection limit of about 9 ppb within a one-second integration time.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure

Plant-level real-time monitoring data reveal substantial abatement potential of air pollution and CO₂ in China's cement sector

China is the world’s greatest cement producer, generating significant air pollution and CO2 emissions. To combat these impacts, China introduced stricter air pollution standards for the cement industry in 2015, yet no plant-level analysis exists to determine their effectiveness. To analyze the impacts of emission regulations, we coupled 2014–2018 smokestack-level real-time observations with plant-specific information and constructed an hourly based dataset of air pollutants (particulate matter [PM], sulfur dioxide [SO2], nitrogen oxide [NOX]) and CO2 emissions. Our analysis shows that regulations introduced in 2015 led to PM, SO2, and NOX reductions of 50.3%, 43.6%, and 34.2%, respectively, but CO2 increased by 5%. Interestingly, 9.4% of the plants analyzed reached China’s 2020 ultralow air pollution standards in 2018. Further analysis shows that if small and old plants are phased out and all remaining plants implement advanced equipment and improve fuels and energy efficiency, PM, SO2, NOX, and CO2 could be further reduced by 68.8%, 66.1%, 82.2%, and 62.0% by 2060. Our results reveal the co-benefits of clean air and climate policies for cement production

Occurrences and distribution characteristics of organophosphate ester flame retardants and plasticizers in the sediments of the Bohai and Yellow Seas, China

Concentrations and distribution characteristics of organophosphate esters (OPEs) in surface sediment samples were analyzed and discussed for the first time in the open Bohai Sea (BS) and YellowSea (YS). Three halogenated OPEs [ tris-(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), tris-(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCPP), and tris-(1,3-dichloro2- propyl) phosphate (TDCPP)] and five non-halogenated OPEs [ tri-isobutyl phosphate (TiBP), tri-n-butyl phosphate (TnBP), tripentyl phosphate (TPeP), triphenyl phosphate (TPhP) and tris-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (TEHP)] were detected in this region. The concentrations of eight OPEs in total (Sigma 8OPEs) ranged from 83 to 4552 pg g(-1) dry weight (dw). The halogenated OPEs showed higher abundances than the non-halogenated ones did, with TCEP, TCPP, and TEHP the main compounds. Generally, concentrations of OPEs in the BS were higher than those in the YS. Riverine input (mainly the Changjiang DilutedWater (CDW)) and deposition effect in the mud areas might have influenced the spatial distributions of OPEs. Correlation between OPE concentrations and total organic carbon (TOC) indicated TOC was an effective indicator for the distribution of OPEs. Inventory analysis of OPEs implied that sea sediment might not be the major reservoir of these compounds. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.</p