Optimization of Ionic Liquid Based Simultaneous Ultrasonic- and Microwave-Assisted Extraction of Rutin and Quercetin from Leaves of Velvetleaf ( Abutilon theophrasti

An ionic liquids based simultaneous ultrasonic and microwave assisted extraction (ILs-UMAE) method has been proposed for the extraction of rutin (RU), quercetin (QU), from velvetleaf leaves. The influential parameters of the ILs-UMAE were optimized by the single factor and the central composite design (CCD) experiments. A 2.00 M 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([C4mim]Br) was used as the experimental ionic liquid, extraction temperature 60°C, extraction time 12 min, liquid-solid ratio 32 mL/g, microwave power of 534 W, and a fixed ultrasonic power of 50 W. Compared to conventional heating reflux extraction (HRE), the RU and QU extraction yields obtained by ILs-UMAE were, respectively, 5.49 mg/g and 0.27 mg/g, which increased, respectively, 2.01-fold and 2.34-fold with the recoveries that were in the range of 97.62–102.36% for RU and 97.33–102.21% for QU with RSDs lower than 3.2% under the optimized UMAE conditions. In addition, the shorter extraction time was used in ILs-UMAE, compared with HRE. Therefore, ILs-UMAE was a rapid and an efficient method for the extraction of RU and QU from the leaves of velvetleaf

Blood transcriptome reveals immune and metabolic-related genes involved in growth of pasteurized colostrum-fed calves

The quality of colostrum is a key factor contributing to healthy calf growth, and pasteurization of colostrum can effectively reduce the counts of pathogenic microorganisms present in the colostrum. Physiological changes in calves fed with pasteurized colostrum have been well characterized, but little is known about the underlying molecular mechanisms. In this study, key genes and functional pathways through which pasteurized colostrum affects calf growth were identified through whole blood RNA sequencing. Our results showed that calves in the pasteurized group (n = 16) had higher body height and daily weight gain than those in the unpasteurized group (n = 16) in all months tested. Importantly, significant differences in body height were observed at 3 and 4 months of age (p < 0.05), and in daily weight gain at 2, 3, and 6 months of age (p < 0.05) between the two groups. Based on whole blood transcriptome data from 6-months old calves, 630 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 235 were upregulated and 395 downregulated, were identified in the pasteurized compared to the unpasteurized colostrum groups. Most of the DEGs have functions in the immune response (e.g., CCL3, CXCL3, and IL1A) and metabolism (e.g., PTX3 and EXTL1). Protein-protein interaction analyses of DEGs revealed three key subnetworks and fifteen core genes, including UBA52 and RPS28, that have roles in protein synthesis, oxidative phosphorylation, and inflammatory responses. Twelve co-expression modules were identified through weighted gene co-expression network analysis. Among them, 17 genes in the two modules that significantly associated with pasteurization were mainly involved in the tricarboxylic acid cycle, NF-kappa B signaling, and NOD-like receptor signaling pathways. Finally, DEGs that underwent alternative splicing in calves fed pasteurized colostrum have roles in the immune response (SLCO4A1, AKR1C4, and MED13L), indicative of potential roles in immune regulation. Results from multiple analytical methods used suggest that differences in calf growth between the pasteurized and unpasteurized groups may be due to differential immune activity. Our data provide new insights into the impact of pasteurization on calf immune and metabolic-related pathways through its effects on gene expression

Effects of the Post-Relocation Support Policy on Livelihood Capital of the Reservoir Resettlers and Its Implications—A Study in Wujiang Sub-Stream of Yangtze River of China

Hydropower energy is a clean alternative energy that has less impact on global climate change than fossil energy. However, the subsequent displacement and resettlement caused by dam construction is a global challenge perplexing the displaced population and the stability of the local socio-economic system. Without proper reconstruction and rehabilitation, the resettlers were highly risked in impoverishment. The Chinese government has formulated and implemented the post-relocation support (PReS) policy for reservoir resettlement and has continuously supported the resettlers to improve their livelihoods and socio-economic conditions since 2006. This paper focus on the 20 years dimension before and after policy formation, tests the variation of resettlers’ livelihood capital and explores the effectiveness of the PReS policy and its blank spots based on a survey of 360 affected households by three big hydroelectric dams in China. The results show that reservoir resettlers would have caused the overall decline of resettlers’ livelihood capital. The prominent problem is that the reduction of land resources and population relocation leads to the changes of resettlers’ livelihood diversification and lifestyle change, which puts forward new requirements for the improvement of job skills and personal capability; the policy plays a significant role in rapidly improving the social, economic, and physical assets of resettlers in the early stage of reservoir resettlement; from the time scale of 15 years of policy implementation, the resettlement policy has an obvious slow-release effect on making up for the improvement of natural resources development and human capital; there are still blank spots in the current resettlement policy. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust and extend the policy for specific groups of people

Effects of the Post-Relocation Support Policy on Livelihood Capital of the Reservoir Resettlers and Its Implications—A Study in Wujiang Sub-Stream of Yangtze River of China

Hydropower energy is a clean alternative energy that has less impact on global climate change than fossil energy. However, the subsequent displacement and resettlement caused by dam construction is a global challenge perplexing the displaced population and the stability of the local socio-economic system. Without proper reconstruction and rehabilitation, the resettlers were highly risked in impoverishment. The Chinese government has formulated and implemented the post-relocation support (PReS) policy for reservoir resettlement and has continuously supported the resettlers to improve their livelihoods and socio-economic conditions since 2006. This paper focus on the 20 years dimension before and after policy formation, tests the variation of resettlers’ livelihood capital and explores the effectiveness of the PReS policy and its blank spots based on a survey of 360 affected households by three big hydroelectric dams in China. The results show that reservoir resettlers would have caused the overall decline of resettlers’ livelihood capital. The prominent problem is that the reduction of land resources and population relocation leads to the changes of resettlers’ livelihood diversification and lifestyle change, which puts forward new requirements for the improvement of job skills and personal capability; the policy plays a significant role in rapidly improving the social, economic, and physical assets of resettlers in the early stage of reservoir resettlement; from the time scale of 15 years of policy implementation, the resettlement policy has an obvious slow-release effect on making up for the improvement of natural resources development and human capital; there are still blank spots in the current resettlement policy. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust and extend the policy for specific groups of people