Thermodynamic and kinetic study of CO2 adsorption/desorptionon amine-functionalized sorbents

The thermodynamic and kinetic characteristics of CO2 adsorption of SBA-16 loaded with pentaethylenehexamine (PEHA) have been investigated using adsorption column system. The Langmuir isotherm model fitts the CO2 adsorption isotherms well, and the average isosteric heat of adsorption is 59.6 kJ/mol, indicating that the CO2 adsorption on PEHA-loaded SBA-16 is chemisorption. The Avrami fractional dynamics model is very suitable for illustrating the adsorption behaviour of CO2 adsorption, and the results of kinetic analysis show that increasing the partial pressure of CO2 or the working temperature is beneficial to the adsorption of CO2. Three desorption methods were evaluatedto achieve the optimal desorption method. The results show that VTSA and steam stripping method are effective methods for industrial CO2 desorption. Steam stripping may be more suitable for plants that already have low-cost steam. The activation energy Ea of CO2 adsorption/desorption is calculated using Arrhenius equation. The activation energy Ea of CO2 adsorption/desorption was calculated using the Arrhenius equation. The results show that the absolute value of Ea (adsorption) decreases with the increase of CO2 partial pressure. In addition, the Ea value of vacuum rotary regeneration method and steam stripping method is smaller than the Ea value of temperature swing regeneration

Low Oral Bioavailability and Partial Gut Microbiotic and Phase II Metabolism of Brussels/Witloof Chicory Sesquiterpene Lactones in Healthy Humans

Free and glycosylated sesquiterpene lactones (SLs), which are abundant in leafy vegetables including Brussels/witloof chicory, possess health-promoting effects in vivo. However, the pharmacokinetics of dietary source of SLs remain largely unknown. In this open-label and single-dose trial, sixteen healthy volunteers consumed 150 g of Brussels/witloof chicory juice containing 48.77 μmol SLs in 5 min. Blood, urine, and fecal samples were collected before and after chicory consumption in 24 h. No SLs were detected in the serum, urine, and fecal samples before chicory consumption in all of the participants. Chicory consumption increased lactucin, 11β,13-dihydrolactucin, and their glucuronide/sulfate conjugates, rather than lactucopicrin and 11β,13-dihydrolactucopicrin, as well as glycosylated SLs in biological samples. The peak concentration of total SLs in serum reached 284.46 nmol/L at 1 h, while, in urine, this peak was 220.3 nmol between 2 and 6 h. The recovery of total SLs in blood, urine, and feces was 7.03%, 1.13%, and 43.76% of the ingested dose, respectively. Human fecal suspensions with intestinal microbiota degraded glycosylated SLs in chicory, and converted lactucopicrin and 11β,13-dihydrolactucopicrin to lactucin and 11β,13-dihydrolactucin, respectively. Collectively, Brussels/witloof chicory SLs are poorly bioavailable and they undergo partial gut microbial and phase II metabolism in humans

Identification and validation of reference genes for quantitative real-time PCR studies in long yellow daylily, <i>Hemerocallis citrina</i> Borani

<div><p>Gene expression analysis using reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) requires the use of reference gene(s) in the target species. The long yellow daylily, <i>Hemerocallis citrina</i> Baroni. is rich in beneficial secondary metabolites and is considered as a functional vegetable. It is widely cultivated and consumed in East Asian countries. However, reference genes for use in RT-qPCR in <i>H</i>. <i>citrina</i> are not available. In the present study, six potential reference genes, <i>actin</i> (<i>ACT</i>), <i>AP-4 complex subunit</i> (<i>AP4</i>), <i>tubulin</i> (<i>TUB</i>), <i>ubiquitin</i> (<i>UBQ</i>), <i>18S</i> and <i>60S ribosomal RNA</i>, were selected and their expression stability in different developmental stages, organs and accessions was evaluated using four statistical software packages (geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and RefFinder). For commercial flower buds of different landraces, the combination of <i>60S</i>, <i>TUB</i>, and <i>AP4</i> was appropriate whereas <i>ACT</i> and <i>60S</i> was suitable for normalization of different organs. In addition, <i>AP4</i> exhibited the most stable expression in flower buds among different developmental stages. <i>UBQ</i> was less stable than the other reference genes under the experimental conditions except under different organs was <i>18S</i>. The relative expression levels of two genes, <i>primary-amine oxidase</i> (<i>HcAOC3</i>) and <i>tyrosine aminotransferase</i> (<i>HcTAT</i>) which play important roles in alkaloid biosynthesis were also examined in different organs of the ‘Datong’ landrace, which further confirmed the results of selected reference genes. This is the first report to evaluate the stability of reference genes in the long yellow daylily that can serve as a foundation for RT-qPCR analysis of gene expression in this species.</p></div

Commercial stage flower buds of different landraces and flower buds at different developmental stages of ‘Datong’.

<p>A, B and C are commercial-stage flower buds of ‘Panlong’, ‘Changzuizi’ and ‘Datong’ landraces, respectively. D and E are flower buds of ‘Datong’ landrace at 0-5cm and 5-10cm stage, respectively.</p

Box-whiskers plot showing Ct variation of six candidate reference genes in the LYD samples.

<p>(A) flower buds at different developmental stages of ‘Datong’ landrace; (B) different organs of ‘Datong’ landrace; (C) commercial flower buds of different landraces; and (D) all samples. The horizontal line within each box represents the median value. For each box, the upper and lower edges indicate the 25th and 75th percentiles, while whiskers represent the maximum and minimum values.</p

Relative expression level of (A) <i>HcAOC3</i> and (B) <i>HcTAT</i> in different organs of ‘Datong’ landrace plants.

<p>The most or the least stable reference genes were used for analysis. The error bars represent standard errors, and <i>t</i>-test statistics were generated from an ANOVA model characterizing among-relative expression levels in the same sample. * <i>P</i> < 0.05.</p

Candidate reference genes descriptions and primer sequences.

<p>Candidate reference genes descriptions and primer sequences.</p

Comprehensive rankings of the six candidate reference genes in the LYD samples based on the RefFinder software program.

<p>Comprehensive rankings of the six candidate reference genes in the LYD samples based on the RefFinder software program.</p

Pairwise Variation (V) analyses of six candidate reference genes in LYD samples.

<p>Pairwise variation (V_n/V_n+1) values were analyzed using the geNorm program. (A) flower buds at different developmental stages of ‘Datong’ landrace; (B) different organs of ‘Datong’ landrace; (C) commercial flower buds of different landraces; and (D) all samples. When the pairwise variation (V_n/V_n+1) is less than 0.15, it is recommended that no additional genes are required for the normalization.</p