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Aim: This cross-sectional study was designed to characterize by age the ratios of limb segments length to height and extremities-trunk ratio and body proportions of southern Chinese children.Methods: Data were collected from students (n = 4715) from five school, aged 6-17 years, in the city of Chongqing. Their standing height, sitting height, arm span, forearm length, upper arm length, leg length, lower leg length, and ratios of extremities to trunk length were determined.Results: Sitting height, forearm length, upper arm length, arm span, and lower leg length were highly correlated with standing height (r > 0.9; P < 0.05). The ratio of extremities to trunk increased till about 13 years of age for both genders.Conclusions: The length of extremities and their ratio to sitting height reflect regular changes of growth in Chinese children as their age, and limb segments length is highly correlated with height. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical and biologically active characterization of jujube samples (fruits, cores, and leaves) were carried out by the integrated nontargeted metabolomics and bioassay. Firstly, collision cross-section values of active compounds in jujubes were determined by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with ion mobility quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Then, a multidimensional statistical analysis that contained principal component analysis, partial least squares-discriminant analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis was employed to effectively cluster different tissues and types of jujubes, making identification more scientific. Furthermore, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) were used to evaluate the quality of jujubes from a double activity dimension. The analytical results obtained by using ACE and DPPH to evaluate the quality of jujube were different from multivariate statistics, providing a reference for the application of jujube. Therefore, integrating chemical and biological perspectives to evaluate the quality of jujube provided a more comprehensive evaluation and effective reference for clinical needs. [Display omitted] • A novel bioassay assisted nontargeted metabolomics was developed. • Secondary metabolites were identified by UHPLC-IM-Q-TOF/MS. • ACE and DPPH were employed to evaluate the quality of jujubes. • Chemometrics contained PCA, PLS-DA, and HCA were employed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography (MEEKC) is a mode of capillary electrophoresis with a wide range of applications in which microemulsion is utilized as background electrolyte to achieve the separation of analytes. Microemulsions are composed of oil droplets, aqueous buffer, surfactant, and co-surfactant. Currently, conventional organic reagents act as the most commonly used oil phase in microemulsions, which are unfriendly to the environment. Recently, deep eutectic solvent (DES) has become a new type of eco-friendly solvent due to its non-toxicity. Therefore, it is of great value to establish a new MEEKC method by replacing conventional organic reagents as the oil phase with DES. The novel DES/W MEEKC method was established for phenolic compounds in Senecio scandens samples. Single-factor experiments and response surface methodology were performed to systematically optimize the crucial parameters for the method, including the type and content of the oil phase, surfactant content, concentration of borax buffer, and pH of the background solution. Under the optimized conditions, satisfactory regression curves were established for all standard analytes with correlation coefficients ≥0.9990. The method featured high sensitivity and favorable accuracy, with the instrumental detection limit in the range of 0.22–1.04 μg/mL, and intraday and interday precision for migration time expressed as relative standard deviations of 0.18–0.82% and 1.25–2.50%, respectively. The DES/W MEEKC method was successfully applied to Senecio scandens with good recoveries of 87.72–106.99%. In conclusion, the newly established DES/W MEEKC method is highly efficient, green and environmentally friendly. DES is considered a green and efficient solvent. The DES/W MEEKC method is highly efficient and environmentally friendly. Actually, the method provides a novel and effective analytical tool for the simultaneous separation and determination of multiple phenolic compounds, especially in complex plant matrices. In the future, the DES/W MEEKC method still has the prospect of being widely used in the separation of other complex phytochemicals. [Display omitted] • Deep eutectic solvent-in-water MEEKC was established. • Deep eutectic solvent was employed as the oil phase in microemulsion system. • Single-factor experiments and response surface methodology were performed. • The method was used for the determination of phenolic compounds in complex matrices. • The method was proven to be environmentally friendly and efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel method for detecting trace phenylacetic acid herbicides was developed. • A double-chain cationic surfactant (DDAB) was used for enrichment in MEKC. • An effective enrichment method is achieved with affinity micelles sweeping. • The SEFs ranged from 85 to 97 compared with typical injection. A novel online two-step pressure injection-assisted stacking preconcentration method, which involves sweeping and affinity micelles in micellar electrokinetic chromatography was developed to simultaneously measure various organic anions. The micellar solution was a mixed solution that contained 0.3 mM didodecyldimethylammonium bromide and 20 mM borax. After the micellar solution was injected for 60 s, the tested analytes prepared in 20 mM borax were introduced into the capillary for 150 s. The key experimental factors that influenced the separation and sensitivity were investigated and optimized, including the concentration and injection time of the micellar solution, the concentration of borax in the sample solution, the concentration of sodium dodecyl sulfate and borax in the background electrolyte (BGE), the content of acetonitrile in the BGE and the injection time of the sample solution. Compared with typical injection methods, this method achieved sensitivity enhancement factors ranging from 85 to 97 under optimized conditions. Good linearity for matrix-matched calibration was established for all analytes with R2 values of 0.9986–0.9996. The intraday (n = 6) and interday (n = 6) precisions of the method were less than 2.85% when expressed as relative standard deviations. When the method was applied to analyze rice and dried ginger samples, analyte recoveries ranged from 85.81% to 106.59%. Through sweeping and affinity micelles, stacking preconcentration method was successfully employed to analyze trace amounts of fenoprop and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in rice and dried ginger samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A 2DLC method was developed to detect the active compounds in honeysuckle. • PCA, PLS-DA and HCA were applied to the species classification of honeysuckle. • IMMS can more accurately identify the compounds in honeysuckle by CCS values. • Considering the activity of α-glucosidase, honeysuckle can be evaluated better. A unique and effective comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography system was established and applied for the analysis of bioactive components in honeysuckle. Under the optimal conditions, Eclipse Plus C 18 (2.1 × 100 mm, 3.5 μm, Agilent) and SB-C 18 (4.6 × 50 mm, 1.8 μm, Agilent) columns were chosen for the first dimension (1D) and the second dimension (2D) separation. The optimal flow rates of 1D and 2D were 0.12 mL/min and 2.0 mL/min, respectively. Additionally, the proportion of organic solution was optimized to enhance orthogonality and integrated shift, and full gradient elution mode was adopted to improve chromatographic resolution. Furthermore, a total of 57 compounds were identified by molecular weight, retention time and collision cross-section value obtained from ion mobility mass spectrometry. Based on the data obtained from the principal component analysis, partial least squares discriminant analysis, and hierarchical cluster analysis, the categories of honeysuckle in different regions were significantly different. Moreover, the half maximal inhibitory concentration values of most samples were between 0.37 and 1.55 mg/mL, and most samples were potent α-glucosidase inhibitors, which is better for the evaluation of the quality of drugs from two aspects of substance content and activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel organic base-assisted (OB-assisted) mechanochemical extraction (MCE) method was established for the efficient extraction of water- and fat-soluble compounds from Ophiopogon japonicus. This study investigated the influence of OB type, amount of OB, grinding time, solid-liquid ratio, vortexing time, and pH. The optimal conditions obtained from the response surface methodology are 124.16 μL of n-butylamine, a grinding time of 6.06 min, and pH of 10.59. In addition, the method showed a good linear relationship (R2 > 0.99), high accuracy (relative standard deviation > 4.44%), and an acceptable recovery rate (89.99–110.52%). The results of scanning electron microscopy suggested that mechanochemical processes may destroy the cell walls and convert the target compounds into water-soluble salt forms in the presence of added OBs. Compared with other methods, the proposed MCE does not use any organic solvent in the extraction medium and reduces the extraction time. It was successfully applied to extract flavonoids and saponins from Ophiopogon japonicus. [Display omitted] • A novel organic base-assisted mechanochemical extraction method was established. • Water is used as a solvent, and no organic solvents are used. • The method can extract hydrophobic and hydrophilic compounds at the same time. • This method can be applied to complex matrixes. • It is an efficient, green and environmentally friendly method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An effective in situ ionic liquid-assisted mechanochemical extraction (MCE) and aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) enrichment method was established. An ATPS can be formed to accomplish the enrichment of the compounds while realizing the MCE for medicinal crop, aiming to establish a pretreatment method for quantitative analysis of active compounds in complex matrices. The effects of ionic liquid amount, milling time, salt amount, vortex time and pH value were investigated, and the optimal conditions for the response surface method were obtained as follows: 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide amount of 250.37 mg, milling time of 1.99 min and salt amount of 4.38 g. After obtaining the optimal conditions, the method has the correlation coefficients of 0.9963–0.9996, and the limits of detection for the analytes were ranged from 0.05 to 0.08 ng/mL. Besides, the recoveries of rose samples were 84–119% at spiked levels of 0.1 and 1 µg/mL. Compared with other extraction methods, this method synchronously combines MCE and ATPS enrichment techniques, which is environmentally friendly and shortens the extraction time, and can effectively extract hydrophobic flavonoids from roses without any organic solvents. [Display omitted] • An in situ IL-assisted MCE-ATPS method for hydrophobic compounds was established. • Hydrophobic compounds were extracted and enriched simultaneously by aqueous solution. • The method was proven to be environmentally friendly and efficient. • The method can effectively extract hydrophobic flavonoids from complex matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The one-step admicelle to cyclodextrin sweeping method was established. • The approach was applied in the preconcentration of five toxic aristolochic acids. • The method showed low detection limit with 3–6 ng/mL. • The sensitivity enrichment factors of five aristolochic acids was enhanced to 30–68. One-step admicelle to cyclodextrin sweeping (ACDS) method in capillary electrophoresis (CE) has been developed for the separation and preconcentration of toxic aristolochic acids (AAs) by applying cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) between the critical micelle concentration and critical surface aggregation concentration. The analytes were captured into the CTAC admicelles, after the more stable inclusion complexes were formed, the release and preconcentration of the analytes could be realized. The CE enrichment parameters, such as the types of cationic surfactants and cyclodextrins (CDs), the concentration of cationic surfactants, disodium tetraborate decahydrate (borax) and CDs, the volume ratio of acetonitrile (ACN) in background electrolyte (BGE) and the sample injection time were optimized systemically. The optimal BGE was composed of 20 mM borax, 10 mM γ-CD and 10 % (v/v) ACN, the sample matrix consisted of 0.2 mM CTAC, 20 mM borax and five analytes. The limit of detection of this method was 3–6 ng/mL, and good linearity values (R2) were obtained for five AAs in the range of 0.997–0.999. Applying optimized conditions, the enrichment efficiencies of five AAs were enhanced with the sensitivity enrichment factors of 30–68. The sweeping approach was successfully applied to the determination of A, B, Ⅶ a , C and D in Aristolochia and Asarum samples, which could provide a potential in the enrichment of the other toxic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • An in-situ formation of ion pair assisted LLME method was developed. • This method was suitable for the separation of highly ionized basic compounds. • The proposed method was optimized by single-factor and multi-factor experiments. • Higher extraction efficiency, better reproducibility and environmental protection were achieved. A simple and rapid method for the determination of microsacle natural alkaloids, being based on the reaction of in-situ formation of ion pair assisted liquid–liquid microextraction (LLME) was established. Microsacle alkaloids and acid dyes formed ion pairs online, which were easily extracted by bonding reagent at an appropriate pH, so as to realize the enrichment and determination of alkaloids. The experimental parameters such as pH value, vortex time, dye types, amount of dye and solvent types were investigated and optimized. Under the optimum conditions, good linear relationships (R2 ≥ 0.9995) were obtained, the detection limits of the proposed method were between 8.9 and 16.7 ng/mL, and the average recoveries of four alkaloids ranged from 87.20 to 102.50%. These results demonstrated that the LLME procedure was a potential method for the separation and determination of alkaloids from natural medicinal materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]