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Residual pesticides in Agrocybe aegerita mushroom have emerged as a significant concern and bring much uncertainty due to processing procedures. In this study, a modified QuEChERS sample preparation procedure and UPLC-MS/MS were used to analyze the residual levels of four commonly used pesticides in A. aegerita from field to product processing. The field results showed that dissipation of these targeted chemicals was consistent with the first-order kinetics, and the half-life time ranged from 20.4 h to 47.6 h. The terminal residues of the four pesticides at harvest time ranged from 9.81 to 4412.56 μg/kg in raw mushroom. The processing factors (PFs) of clothianidin, diflubenzuron, chlorbenzuron, and pyridaben ranged from 0.119 to 0.808 for the drying process and from 0.191 to 1 for the washing process. By integrating the data from the field trials, the PFs, and the consumption survey, the chronic dietary risks of the target chemicals via A. aegerita intake ranged from 2.41 × 10−5 to 5.69 × 10−2 for children and from 6.34 × 10−6 to 1.88 × 10−2 for adults, which are considerably below the threshold of 1, indicating no unacceptable risk to consumers in the Fujian province of China. This research offers foundational data for appropriate use and the maximum residue limit (MRL) establishment for these four insecticides in A. aegerita. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sophora flavescens, which was first recorded in Shen Nong's Herbal Classic, has the functions of clearing away heat, drying dampness, killing parasites and promoting urination. In its long-term application, traditional Chinese medicine has gradually deepened its understanding of the origin and efficacy of S. flavescens. In order to explore changes in the origin and efficacy of traditional Chinese herb S. flavescens in the history of China and Japan, in this paper, the origin and development of S. flavescens in China and Japan were compared from three aspects; the origin, medicinal efficacy, and processing methods of S. flavescens in China and Japan, hoping to provide clear understanding of the medicinal plant S. flavescens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The root of Reynoutria multiflora (Thunb.) Moldenke (RM) has been used widely in formulations of herbal medicines in China for centuries. Raw R. multiflora (RRM) should be processed before use to reduce toxicity and increase efficacy. However, detailed regulation of the processing endpoint is lacking, and the duration of processing can vary considerably. We conducted in-depth research on stilbene glycosides in RM at different processing times. Previously, we discovered that 219 stilbene glycosides changed markedly in quantity and content. Therefore, we proposed that processing causes changes in various chemical groups. Methods: To better explain the mechanism of RM processing for toxicity reduction and efficacy enhancement, we used a method of tandem mass spectrometry described previously to research gallic acid based and catechin based metabolites. Results: A total of 259 metabolites based on gallic acid and 112 metabolites based on catechins were identified. Among these, the peak areas of 157 gallic acid and 81 catechins gradually decreased, those of another 71 gallic acid and 30 catechins first increased and then decreased, those of 14 gallic acid and 1 catechin gradually increased. However, 17 of the gallic acids showed no significant changes. We speculate that many gallic acid metabolites hydrolyze to produce gallic acid; moreover, the dimers/trimers of catechins, after being cleaved into catechins, epicatechin, gallic acid catechins, and epicatechin monomers, are cleaved into gallic acid and protocatechualdehyde under high temperature and high humidity, subsequently participating in the Maillard reaction and browning reactions. Discussion: We showed that processing led to changes in chemical groups, clarification of the groups of secondary metabolites could provide a basis for research on the pharmacological and toxic mechanisms of RM, as well as the screening of related markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Penthorum chinense Pursh (Penthoraceae) is a traditional herb used in Miao medical systems that is also processed into foods (e.g., tea products) in China. Different processing methods significantly affect the volatile compounds, phenolic constituents, and biological activities. This study aimed to produce P. chinense green tea leaves (GTL), black tea leaves (BTL), and untreated leaves (UL) to investigate differences in their flavor substances, functional components, antioxidant activity, alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity, and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity. The results showed that 63, 56, and 56 volatile compounds were detected in UL, GTL, and BTL, respectively, of which 43 volatile compounds were identified as differential metabolites among them. The total phenolic content (97.13–179.34 mg GAE/g DW), flavonoid content (40.07–71.93 mg RE/g DW), and proanthocyanidin content (54.13–65.91 mg CE/g DW) exhibited similar trends, decreasing in the order of UL > BTL > GTL. Fourteen phenolic compounds were determined, of which gallic acid, (−)-epicatechin, and pinocembrin 7-O-glucoside showed a sharp decrease in content from UL to BTL, while the content of pinocembrin 7-O-(3″-O-galloy-4″, 6″-hexahydroxydiphenoyl)-glucoside and pinocembrin significantly increased. GTL showed better DPPH/ABTS·+ scavenging ability and ferric-reducing ability than UL. The ADH and ALDH activities decreased in the order of GTL > UL > BTL. Therefore, tea products made with P. chinense leaves contained an abundance of functional compounds and showed satisfactory antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities, which are recommended for daily consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fuzhuan brick tea (FBT) is a traditional popular beverage in the border regions of China. Nowadays, FBT has been attracted great attention due to its uniquely flavor and various health-promoting functions. An increasing number of efforts have been devoted to the studies on health benefits and chemistry of FBT over the last decades. However, FBT was still received much less attention than green tea, oolong tea and black tea. Therefore, it is necessary to review the current encouraging findings about processing, microorganisms, chemical constituents, health benefits and potential risk of FBT. The fungus fermentation is the key stage for processing of FBT, which is involved in a complex and unique microbial fermentation process. The fungal community in FBT is mainly dominated by "golden flower" fungi, which is identified as Aspergillus cristatus. A great diversity of novel compounds is formed and identified after a series of biochemical reactions during the fermentation process of FBT. FBT shows various biological activities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, anti-bacterial, and anti-tumor activities. Furthermore, the potential risk of FBT was also discussed. It is expected that this review could be useful for stimulating further research of FBT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pine pollen, well-known as a "natural micro-nutrient bank," is the male spore of Pinus massoniana Lamb., Pinus tabuliformis Carr., and other plants of the same genus. Pine pollen has a long history of use in China as a traditional medicinal and edible material due to its rich nutrients, bioactive compounds, and health potential. This review summarizes the published findings related to chemical compositions, health effects, processing and storage, and food applications of pine pollen. The possible mechanisms behind the beneficial properties of pine pollen, and the future direction for research and development are also underlined. Pine pollen is a rich source of macronutrients and bioactive compounds that have demonstrated various health benefits, including antioxidant, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, glucose and lipid metabolism regulatory, antimicrobial and antiviral, antitumor and anticancer, hepatoprotective, gastrointestinal modulatory, anti-aging, and other biological properties. The nutritional quality and beneficial effects of pine pollen are influenced by post-harvest processing methods. Pine pollen has diverse applications in the food industry, such as in beverages, pastries, dairy products, delivery systems, and as sorbents for separation and purification of polar analytes. Further in vivo experiments and clinical trials are needed to deepen our understanding of its health benefits. Exploring combinations of multiple processing methods could optimize the utilization of pine pollen as a nutritional food resource. • Pine pollen is a good source of macronutrients, minerals, phytochemicals。. • Pine pollen shows many biological activities owing to nutraceuticals abundance. • Processing greatly affects chemical composition and health benefits of pine pollen. • Pine pollen has been developed to various beverages, pastries and dairy products. • Apart from products, pine pollen can be applied to delivery systems and absorbents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal raw materials are essential for industrial production. Global metal markets have changed considerably since the start of the twenty-first century, China being the most influential driver of this change. With China's economic rise, metal demand has skyrocketed, and global production shares in metal raw materials and trade volumes have shifted towards the People's Republic. While China has become the dominant location for global metal production and consumption, older industrial economies like the European countries or the US have lost global share. This paper aims to compare the different developments in China, the European Union and the US regarding markets for the base metals aluminium, copper, lead, nickel, tin and zinc as well as iron and steel. The analysis covers movements in industrial production, metal production locations (mining – refined production – refined consumption) and metal trade volumes (ores and concentrates – waste and scrap – refined products and articles thereof). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution of deoxynivalenol (DON) and its derivatives 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-Ac-DON) and 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-Ac-DON) throughout the wheat processing chain were systemically evaluated by one-to-one corresponding studies of the whole processing chain. DON and its derivatives were determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in wheat grains and corresponding wheat bran, wheat flour, and semi-finished and finished wheat flour-based products. This investigation showed that wheat grain processing to wheat flour significantly decreased the levels of DON by approximately 52.7%-68.2%. Wheat flour processing of wheat flour-based products decreased the DON concentration by approximately 7.0%-70.6%. Among the processing methods, biscuit making showed the largest reduction (70.6%). The co-occurrence frequency of DON with low levels of 3-Ac-DON and 15-Ac-DON was significantly greater in wheat grains and wheat bran than in wheat flour. For wheat flour-based products, only the distribution pattern of 3-Ac-DON was observable in processed wheat flour products prepared using grains heavily contaminated with DON. In China, to the best of our knowledge, the processing factors (PFs) of DON in wheat flour and wheat flour-based products were systematically evaluated for the first time. The average PF of DON was 0.35 for wheat flour and the average PFs were 0.37-0.84 for wheat flour-based products, with biscuits having the smallest PF (0.37), indicating DON significantly decreasing in biscuit making. Furthermore, dietary exposure assessment of DON indicated an acceptable overall health risk in Chinese consumers, with the highest exposure being observed in infants and young children. This study provides important references for classified management of DON limits in wheat and its various products in China., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Coix seed is a kind of widespread cereal, and it is used as a folk medicine in China. The present work focuses on the analysis of changes in triacylglycerols (TAGs) content and mycotoxins of coix seed during the processing and storage period for its quality control. Using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with evaporative light-scattering detector (HPLC-ELSD) techniques, 42 lipid components in coix seeds were identified, and seven molecular species of TAG in coix seeds from different localities in China were measured and compared, respectively. A correlation analysis between the morphological features and TAGs contents revealed the integrity instead of the particle size of the seed, displaying a highly positive correlation with its quality. The higher contents of TAGs in hulled coix seed than in polished coix seed proposed an alternative processing way. During storage, the changes in TAGs contents of seeds indicated that the storage period should be less than 3 months, and the intact seeds could maintain lipid stability better than the powder. Furthermore, the air humidity and temperature should be controlled during coix seed storage to prevent the production of mycotoxins. These results provide significant insight into the effective control of coix seed quality during processing and storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pinellia Tuber (the dried tuber of Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Makino [Araceae]) (PT) is a crude drug used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Japanese Kampo medicine. PT is subjected to additional processing before use in TCM because of its toxic, while the processing has not been used in Kampo medicine. The aim of this study is to clarify the reason why the differences about the processing of PT between TCM and Kampo medicine have been appeared. We investigated successive literatures published in China and in Japan from the Han dynasty to the modern age. The descriptions about the processing of PT in China had appeared since the Later Han dynasty as washing, and after that, various processing methods have been recorded, such as boiling, steaming, making cakes, and fermenting to prepare PT malt (PTM) with various drug additives. The objective of the processing for PT was not only to remove its toxicity but to change drug properties, and several kinds of processed PT had been developed to treat different types of "phlegm" in the Ming dynasty. The current Chinese Pharmacopoeia recommends the use of processed PT to avoid the toxicity, and registers unprocessed PT as well as three kinds of processed PT except for PTM which had been deleted in 2015 edition. These processing methods for PT have been established in the Qing dynasty. The oldest description in Japan was appeared in 1363, and the processing methods had been influenced by the literatures in the Song dynasty. After that, the processed PT in Japan had mainly been PTM until the 18th century. In 1738, Shuan Kagawa wrote that PT should not be processed because its pharmacological effects disappeared and the toxicity of PT disappeared by preparing its decoction without processing. Then, the processing of PT has been unpopular, and the Japanese Pharmacopoeia has registered PT since 1939 without any processing. Compared to TCM, Japanese Kampo medicine has tended to avoid ideologism based on traditional knowledge and to adopt positivism. This policy has reflected the differences in the processing of PT between Kampo medicine and TCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fuzi is a famous toxic traditional herbal medicine, which has long been used for the treatment of various diseases in China and many other Asian countries because of its extraordinary pharmacological activities and high toxicity. Different processing methods to attenuate the toxicity of Fuzi are important for its safe clinical use. In this study, desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging (DESI-MSI) with a metabolomics-combined multivariate statistical analysis approach was applied to investigate a series of Aconitum alkaloids and explore potential metabolic markers to understand the differences between raw and processed Fuzi with different steaming time points. Moreover, the selected metabolic markers were visualized by DESI-MSI, and six index alkaloids' contents were determined through HPLC. The results indicated visible differences among raw and processed Fuzi with different steaming times, and 4.0 h is the proper time for toxicity attenuation and efficacy reservation. A total of 42 metabolic markers were identified to discriminate raw Fuzi and those steamed for 4.0 and 8.0 h, which were clearly visualized in DESI-MSI. The transformation from diester-diterpenoid alkaloids to monoester-diterpenoid alkaloids and then to non-esterified diterpene alkaloids through hydrolysis is the major toxicity attenuation process during steaming. DESI-MSI combined with metabolomics provides an efficient method to visualize the changeable rules and screen the metabolic markers of Aconitum alkaloids during steaming. The wide application of this technique could help identify markers and reveal the possible chemical transition mechanism in the "Paozhi" processes of Fuzi. It also provides an efficient and easy way to quality control and ensures the safety of Fuzi and other toxic traditional Chinese medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plantaginis Semen is a traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) commonly used in clinical practice in China, which has the effects of clearing heat, inducing diuresis for treating stranguria, draining dampness and relieving diarrhea, brightening eyes, and eliminating phlegm. Plantaginis Semen has a long history of processing. In the Han Dynasty, there were records of stir-frying, and then processing with wine, processing with salt water, processing with rice water, and other processing methods appeared. Plantaginis Semen after processing can weaken the cold nature of the drug, suitable for clinical application. Modern research has shown that the main chemical constituents of Plantaginis Semen are phenylethanol glycosides, cyclic enol ether terpenes, polysaccharides, and flavonoids, with diuretic, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, antioxidant, and other pharmacological effects. This article reviewed the materia medica, medicine books, and related literature in various dynasties and analyzed the historical processing evolution, chemical constituents, and pharmacological effects of Plantaginis Semen, so as to provide a reference for the relevant research on Plantaginis Semen.

While the capsid of viruses in the Alphachrysovirus genus is built of subunits of a single coat protein, the capsid of viruses grouped in the Betachrysovirus genus may consist of subunits of two different proteins. For four of these betachrysoviruses, the detected molecular weights of the putative coat proteins differ from the sizes deduced from the nucleic acid sequence. The origin of these modifications remained unclear and it was hypothesized that the coat proteins undergo unspecific degradation. In our study, we show that these modifications are based on processing steps performed by unknown factors present in extracts of several eukaryotic organisms. Furthermore, we show that the C-terminal domain of P3 is fully degraded after capsid processing and particle assembly. • Coat proteins from FgV-ch9 are processed by eukaryotic factors. • The C-terminus of P3 of FgV-ch9 is fully degraded during processing. • Eukaryotic factors are processing P3 of the related betachrysovirus FodV1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Pymetrozine is a widely used pesticide. It is challenging to analyze and difficult to manage due to the large gap in its global maximum residue limits (MRLs) in tea. The development of a high‐efficiency detection method for the evaluation of the transfer of residual pymetrozine from tea plantations to tea cups is therefore of prime significance. RESULTS: An analytical method for the determination of pymetrozine residues in tea was established based on Cleanert PCX solid‐phase extraction. The average recoveries were 72.2–93.7%, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of less than 12%. The limits of quantification (LOQs) were 0.005 mg·kg−1 in fresh tea leaves and dry tea, and 0.00025 mg·L−1 in tea brew. Pymetrozine degraded rapidly in tea plants with a half‐life (t1/2) of 1.9 days in open tea plantations, and decreased by 9.4–23.7% in the green tea‐processing procedure, which was concentration dependent. The residual pymetrozine levels in green tea collected at 6 and 21 days were below the MRLs in China and EU at a dosage of 30 g a.i. ha−1, respectively. The leaching rates of pymetrozine from dry tea to tea brew were 58.7–96.3%. Hazard quotient (HQ) values of pymetrozine were significantly <100% when tea shoots were plucked in 6 days, which indicated a negligible risk to humans. CONCLUSION: This work allows the determination of residual pymetrozine in tea and illustrates a low intake risk with the use of pymetrozine in tea plantations. It could serve as reference for further regulation consideration for maximum residue limits (MRLs). © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a unique medical resource in China. As an important part of TCM, the quality and safety of Chinese medical herbs have been attracting wide attentions. In the procedure of pest control on Chinese medical herbs, pesticide residue issues caused by non-standard application were closely associated with the product quality as well as the export trade. This review summarized the current status of pesticide registration and residue limit standards in Chinese medical herbs. The impact of different processing technologies on pesticide residues in Chinese medical herbs was also reviewed. On this basis, the relevant problems of pesticide application and management on Chinese medical herbs were thoroughly discussed, and the measures were proposed to reduce the pollution of pesticide residues. The aims of this review were to clarify the changes of pesticide residues from harvest to consumption of Chinese medical herbs, therefore, to provide insightful ideas to strengthen the pesticide residue control, to reduce the risks of excessive residues, and to enhance the rational use and management of pesticides in Chinese medical herbs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food Research & Development is the property of Food Research & Development Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Sensitive, simple and quick methods for determination of dinotefuran, cyromazine, and the metabolites 1-methyl-3-(tetrahydro-3-furylmethyl) guanidine (DN), 1-methyl-3-(tetrahydro-3-furylmethyl) urea (UF), and melamine in Agrocybe aegerita were established and validated by ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The dissipation and residues of these compounds in A. aegerita were investigated. The field results showed that dinotefuran and cyromazine dissipated rapidly with half-lives ranging from 24.9 h to 38.5 h. The terminal residues of total dinotefuran (the sum of dinotefuran and its metabolites), cyromazine, and melamine in fresh mushroom samples collected with sampling intervals of 3 d to 6 d ranged from 0.089 to 0.652 mg/kg, 0.593 to 2.054 mg/kg, and 0.002 to 0.005 mg/kg, respectively. During the drying processes of A. aegerita, the processing factors of dinotefuran, cyromazine, DN, UF, and melamine were 0.028, 0.012, 0.301, 0.002, and 0.001, respectively. Given that cyromazine and dinotefuran are not registered for use on A. aegerita , dietary risk was assessed. Based on a consumption survey, risk quotient (RQ) values significantly below 1 implied that the risk of A. aegerita consumption was acceptable, although the risk for children was relatively higher. The findings could provide valuable guidance for the appropriate use of these insecticides in A. aegerita cultivation and serve as a scientific reference for setting corresponding maximum residue limits (MRL) in China. [Display omitted] • Dinotefuran and cyromazine dissipated rapidly in Agrocybe aegerita cultivation. • The dietary risk was acceptable for consumption of Agrocybe aegerita. • Drying process clearly decreases residues of these compounds. • A guidance for the appropriate use of these insecticides was provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a common medicinal and edible resource in China, Coicis Semen has a long history of cultivation and medicinal use. Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) clinically believes that Coicis Semen has the effect of strengthening the spleen and tonifying the lungs, clearing heat and dampness, removing pus and paralysis, and stopping diarrhea. Therefore, it is used to treat edema, foot odor, spleen deficiency, diarrhea, and other symptoms. The above effects are closely related to the active ingredients of Coicis Semen, such as esters, fatty acids, polysaccharides, proteins, as well as phenolic acids, sterols, flavonoids, lactams, triterpenes, alkaloids, and adenosine. Modern research has found that Coicis Semen also has anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and hypotensive effects and other pharmacological activities, and it can improve immunity and regulate lipid metabolism. Coicis Semen is widely distributed in China, mainly produced in Guizhou, Yunnan, Fujian, Sichuan, and other places, and the quality of Coicis Semen from different origins varies. From ancient times to the present, Coicis Semen processing methods have experienced the process from simple to complex, and the types of auxiliary materials are more extensive, such as soil, bran, and river sand. These processing methods have been inherited from generation to generation. Nowadays, the commonly used methods are bran-fried, stir-fried, sand-fried, etc. In this paper, by reviewing the relevant literature in China and abroad in recent years, the main active ingredients and related pharmacological effects of Coicis Semen are sorted out, and the effects of different origins and processing methods on the chemical composition of Coicis Semen are summarized, with a view to providing references for the comprehensive development and utilization of Coicis Semen and the further study of its mechanism of action.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death globally. Consumption of whole grains and cereal fiber, as part of a healthy diet, can lower the risk of CHD. Health claims on food products are effective in helping consumers select healthful diets. The US Food and Drug Administration was the first to approve a health claim, in 1997, between beta-glucan soluble fiber from whole oats, oat bran, and whole oat flour and reduced risk of CHD. Only a few countries have approved similar claims. Since 1997, a significant amount of additional evidence has been published on the relationship between oat beta-glucan and CHD. To assist other jurisdictions in potentially utilizing this claim, the full extent of data that supports this claim (ie, the evidence utilized by the US Food and Drug Administration to substantiate the claim, as well as the results of 49 clinical trials published since 1997) are reviewed here. The complexities involved in authoring evidence-based health claims, including the impact of processing on beta-glucan cholesterol-lowering efficacy in approving eligible beta-glucan products, are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food Research & Development is the property of Food Research & Development Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Taste, the combination of various taste-producing components in tea, is one of the most significant elements for tea quality evaluation. Green tea, a non-fermented tea, is the most produced and consumed tea in China. The enzymes in the fresh leaves for making green tea are basically passivated after high-temperature killing, and the original quality components are maximum retained in the fresh leaves. Different tea cultivars have various taste for the different types, contents, and composition ratios of biochemical components in fresh leaves. In recent years, in order to meet the development needs of the Chinese tea industry and changes in the industrial structure, numerous high-quality tea cultivars can be cultivated to produce green tea. However, the diversification of tea cultivars has brought great difficulties to identify or evaluate taste quality of green tea. A sensory evaluation method for tea taste quality can be susceptible to subjective factors of tea evaluation personnel, and external environmental factors, indicating lacking some objectivity of its evaluation to a certain extent. In this study, a systematic comparative investigation was conducted to evaluate the content of the main taste components and Dot value (concentration of taste components in tea soup/taste components threshold) of green tea made from 25 tea cultivars or strains, and a principal component analysis method was used to establish prediction models for different tea cultivars or strains, and taste quality of green tea. The results demonstrated that caffeine and catechins were the dominate elements for the difference in the intensity of bitterness and astringency. While Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and caffeine were the main contributor to bitterness, EGCG was also a main astringency contributor. Amino acid was the prominent factor for the difference in umami and sweetness of green tea from different tea cultivars or strains, where glutamic acid was the predominant contributor to umami. Principal component analysis showed that the cumulative variance contribution rate of 5 principal components were 79.018%. The top four principal components can be considered as Astringent and bitterness, refreshing factor, bitterness factor and umami factor. The taste comprehensive evaluation model was constructed based on the linear regression equation and contribution rate of the previous five principal components, to evaluate the characteristics of green tea. The predictive model evaluation results were similar to that of the sensory evaluation, indicating an extremely significant correlation (P<0.01) and the correlation coefficient index was 0.791. The scores in the prediction model can be utilized to fully distinguish the taste characteristics, such as bitterness, astringent, refreshing, and umami of the tested samples. Therefore, the prediction model can be used to accurately distinguish and evaluate the difference in taste quality and bitterness, astringent, refreshing, umami and other taste characteristics of the tested samples. The finding can provide a theoretical basis for the popularization and application of various tea cultivars or strains, and new ideas and facile methods for the scientific evaluation of the taste quality of green tea from different tea cultivars or strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbal medicine is a major part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which is evolved as a system of medical practice from ancient China. The use of herbal medicine is mainly based on practice and theories and concepts rooted in ancient philosophy. In the era of evidence-based medicine, it is essential to accurately evaluate herbal remedy with standard/modern medical practice approaches. Tetradium ruticarpum (A. Juss.) Hartley (TR), a medicinal plant with diversify bioactive components, has been broadly used to treat pain and gastrointestinal disorders in TCM. However, TR has also been reported to have potential toxicity by long-term use or excessive doses, though the associated compounds are yet to be identified. TR is usually processed, and/or combined with other herbs in TCM formulas in order to achieve a synergistic effect or reduce its toxicity. Since processing or polyherbal formulation of TR may lead to changes in its chemical composition and contents, quality, efficacy and toxicity, comparison of TR samples before and after processing, as well as its combination with other medicines, would provide useful knowledge of bioactive compounds, efficacy and toxicity of this valuable medicinal plant. Here we reviewed the recent studies about the phytochemistry, pharmacokinetic behaviors and toxicity of TR under various processing or polyherbal formulation conditions, which would expand our understanding of mechanisms of TR's efficacy and toxicity and be valuable for quality control in industrial manufacturing, future medicinal research, and safety and rational use of TR in TCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China is the largest producer and exporter of Lentinus edodes in the world. To improve its market value, twin-screw extrusion and expansion machine has been developed to further process the Lentinus edodes. To resolve the problems of blockage, low prematurity and missing operation parameters of this machine in producing Lentinus edodes pufferent, we presented an improved twin-screw extrusion and expansion machine in this paper to lower puffer ability, improve water absorption and reduce its hardness. The equipment consists of a frame, a mixing device, a feeding device, a tempering device, a heating device, an extruding and bulking device and a rotary cutting device. It is equipped with a cooling system, a lubricating system, a transmission system, a control system and a pressure detection system. Design and determination of the anti-blocking device for the feed mixing device, the pre-maturing and tempering device, and the structural parameters of the twin screw were conducted. In order to investigate the influence of operation parameters on swelling performance of the product, the Box-benhnken combined test method was used to study the working parameters of the double screw extruder. The effects of screw speed, extrusion temperature and water content on the swelling rate, hardness, brittleness and water absorption of the expanded product were analyzed, and the determinants were optimized. The results showed that, based on the level of the significance, 1) factors affecting the expansion rate were ranked in material water content > expansion temperature > screw speed, 2) factors affecting hardness were ranked in material moisture content > screw speed > swelling temperature, 3) factors affecting brittleness were ranked in material moisture content > screw speed, 4) factors affecting water absorption were ranked in material moisture content > swelling temperature > screw speed. The optimal operating parameters were: screw speed 167.23 r/min, swelling temperature 151.68℃, material moisture content 16.83%. Under these conditions, the swelling rate, hardness, brittleness and water absorption of the product were increased by 4.04%, 18.61 N, -8.46 mm/cm2 and 313.86% respectively, compared to the traditional machine. Practical application of the optimized parameters revealed that the error between the optimized productivity and real productivity was less than 4%, with the maximum productivity being 165 kg/h. Compared with the existing equipment in the laboratory at School of Mechanical Engineering in Yangzhou University, the designed machine increased the swelling rate, brittleness, water adsorption and brittleness by 25.00%, 40.55% and 62.35% respectively, while reducing the hardness by 48.21%. Therefore, the design of this machine can provide relatively mature technical equipment for the development of mushroom swelling products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Plastic film mulch (PFM) increased the yield but reduced the grain protein content. • PFM increased grain structural protein content but reduced its gluten content. • For each 100 kg ha−1 increase in N fertilizer, the globulin content increased by 0.1%. • The optimal N rates were 167 kg ha−1 for albumin and 100 kg ha−1 for glutenin under PFM. High crop yield and high quality are the primarily targets in intensive crop production. Although the plastic film mulch (PFM) approach has been well established for high-yielding wheat production in dryland, effects of PFM on wheat grain quality is still poorly understood. Therefore, multi–site and fixed location field experiments were conducted to investigate effects of PFM on grain yield, protein content and its components content of dryland winter wheat in 2014–2016 in the Loess Plateau of China. Compared with no mulch (NM), PFM increased the grain yield, structural protein contents and the ratio of gliadin/glutenin by 634 kg ha−1, 11.3%–30.8% and 15.1%, respectively, but reduced the total protein and its gluten contents by 7.8% and 3.4%–15.1%. Furthermore, PFM significantly increased the proportion of albumin, globulin and gliadin to total protein by 22.3%, 44.2% and 5.5%, respectively, but decreased the proportion of glutenin by 7.4%, compared to NM. The highest grain yield, albumin and glutenin content were attained when the critical N rates were 146 kg N ha−1, 167 kg N ha−1 and 100 kg N ha−1, respectively. Moreover, for every 100 kg ha−1 increase in N fertilizer, the globulin content increased by 0.11%, but the ratio of gliadin/glutenin decreased by 0.12%. In summary, PFM did not show any benefit for gluten, while precise N fertilizer management provided an opportunity for improving grain processing quality of dryland wheat. In order to tradeoff between grain yield and its processing quality, the optimal N application rate (146–167 kg N ha−1) should be considered under PFM. These findings suggest that optimal N management serves as a basis for further investigation and regulation of grain protein components of wheat under PFM in the semiarid area of China and similar cropping system around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peanut is a very important crop for production and trade of the edible oil not only in China and also in the world. Both China and the United States of America (USA) are important peanut producers and exporters in the world. In 2018, the total groundnut production of China and the USA were about 17 000 kt and 2 477 kt, accounting for 40.52% and 5.93% of the total production in the world respectively. The peanut exportation as well as peanut product exportation from the two countries were 685 kt and 567 kt, accounting for 20.22% and 16.74% of world total respectively. In China, the peanut production is about 7 times of the United States, but the peanut exportation only is 1.2 times of the United States in 2018, which indicates that the United States has become the most efficient and most advanced in peanut processing in the world. Based on comprehensively analysis, the main reasons for the United States to be the leading nation in peanut industry are not only the high mechanization level in peanut harvest but also the most advanced technology in peanut shelling processing. Peanut processing includes the procurement, storage, shelling, grading, and transportation of raw peanuts. The peanut shelling industry is responsible for the food safety and the quality throughout the supply chain. Shelling is a very important part of the post-harvest processing of peanut, which is not only a necessary step in peanut production and processing, but also the key source of peanut kernel damage. The technology status of peanut shelling mechanization determines the peanut kernel quality level, which includes peanut hulling loss, damage, health and safety. The United States is not only the earliest and most technologically advanced country in realizing peanut harvest mechanization, but also the earliest in realizing the mechanization of peanut shelling, with leading technology in the world. The advanced technology and equipment in peanut shelling processing have played an important role in the change of peanut consumption structure and the promotion of demand, the development of food processing industry and the enhancement of the international competitiveness of peanut and its products of the United States. In order to explore the technology and learn from the experience of the USA on peanut shelling which can be referred by Chinese peanut enterprises and engineers, classify, and review the peanut shelling technology of the USA were conducted based on onsite observation and public survey of documents. By means of the systematical analysis of the process of American peanut shelling, the layout of shelling plant and related shelling equipment, and the typical peanut shelling process and equipment configuration，the technical characteristics of American peanut shelling, which is significant different from China in aspects such as the industrialization and the large scale, the advanced equipment and well-equipped assembling, localization and ordering were summarized. The problems that the United States will focus on in the future, including but not limited to the selection, the storage safety, the transportation of peanut nuts, the detection and elimination of aflatoxin, the further improvement of processing efficiency and the optimizing of technology and equipment, etc were also predicted. At last, the suggestions on the development of peanut shelling technology according to the geographical location and gradually innovating from one-stage shelling to cyclic shelling were provided, according to the actual condition of Chinese peanut shelling. Also, suggests were provide developing shelling process from a narrow scope to a broader scope and setting up a standardized process for peanut shelling. The above findings and suggestions should be useful to the improvement of peanut shelling technology not only in China but also in other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Potato processing industry is an important carrier for implementing potato staple food strategy, which was launched in 2015 in mainland China. Ulanqab City located in Inner Mongolia, which is one of the main producing areas of potato and located in the North of China. Ulanqab City is a prominent leader of China’s potato production and is often referred to as “China’s Potato Capital”. Based on a survey among potato processing companies and factories in Ulanqab City, the current study analyzed the factors that influenced the development of Chinese potato processing industry from a perspective of industrial integration. First, vertical cooperation based on contracts between farmers and processors has still lagged by now, and therefore efficient, intensified and large-scale planting haven’t yet been formed in the Ulanqab City. Second, processing in a lower level, lacking of recycling and reusing of wastes and insufficient utilizing of by-products, seasonal overcapacity, and periodic idling of processing equipments were common problems faced by the surveyed potato processing enterprises. Furthermore, compared with the potato enterprises in developed countries, those in China fall behind in processing equipments, production technologies and management concepts. Third, higher logistics costs, the underdevelopment of cold-chain logistics, lacking of financial supports, the change of foreign exchange rates and the implement and enforce of international trade control had great influence on the development of potato processing industry. In addition, the proposal of “potato staple food strategy” offers a new opportunity and points the way for the development of the potato processing industry. Potato staple food strategy involves the potato processing industry and its upstream and downstream industries. The potato farmers’ responses to the policy will surely promote the development of potato production technology and provide quality raw materials for the processing industry. The research institutes, incentive by the guidance of the potato staple food strategy, will do more research in the related fields of technologies and policy. Most importantly, the strategy will bring more changes for the potato processing industry and thus boom the industry. Also, more Chinese consumers will accept potato products as staple food with the implementation of the strategy and thus increase the demands of potatoes from the source. Thus, the strategy is undoubtedly the driving force behind the rapid development of the potato processing industry in China. In terms of policies, it is urgent and of vital importance to put the potato staple food strategy into practice. Specifically, first, the government agencies should treat the production of potato as those of staple crops, such as wheat and rice, and offer rational subsidies for the planting of potato. Second, the government agencies should provide more supports to the potato processing companies. Third, the government agencies should increase research and develop investment in the potato planting areas for more sustainable production and ecological protection. Finally, the Chinese government agencies at all levels should attach importance to the top-level designing before formulating relative policies, by focusing on the coordinated development of the primary, secondary and tertiary industry and therefore promoting a healthy and sustainable development of the Chinese potato industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a new source of functional food materials, the fruits (Cili) of the wild plant Rosa roxburghii Tratt have been drawn much attention recent years in China. However, due to the acidic and astringent sensory property, cili gained little popularity in commercialization. This study aims to develop novel cili food product by different thermal processing methods and evaluated the changes in nutrient values and sensory properties so as to gain solid information to support the development of cili products. Canned cili, cili wine, and cili juice with or without pericarp were prepared. Although the food processing resulted in significant changes in bioactive substances of phenolics, flavonoids, and vitamin C, the processed products still showed high nutritional values. Among the various products, cili juice best prevented the loss of phenolics and flavonoids, and the retention of pericarp helped improve the prevention. Canned cili retained vitamin C most, and even the can solution had a higher vitamin C content as compared to other forms of products. For the antioxidant bioactivity, cili juice and can solution exhibited the most potent 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity. According to the sensory results, the canned cili and cili wine were acceptable by customers and had potential commercial values. [Display omitted] • Fresh Rosa roxburghii (Cili) is rich in vitamin C, phenolic acids, and flavonoids. • Cili high antioxidant capacity results from various substances synergistic action. • The processed cili products still show high nutritional values after the processing. • The canned cili and cili wine have commercial values based on sensory results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bombyx Batryticatus is a precious traditional Chinese animal drug commonly used in clinical practice in China, which has the effects of extinguishing wind, stopping convulsions, dispelling wind, relieving pain, resolving phlegm, and dissipating mass. The processing of Bombyx Batryticatus has a long history. As early as in the Liu Song period of the Southern and Northern Dynasties, there was a record of the processing of Bombyx Batryticatus with rice swill. In addition to the processing with bran, honey bran, and ginger juice, which are still used today, there are also processing methods such as rendering, flour processing, wine processing, salt processing, oil processing, charcoal, and red dates processing in ancient times. After processing, the fishy smell of Bombyx Batryticatus can be removed, and avoid nausea and vomiting caused by the direct taking. Furthermore, processing can also facilitate the removal of surface hairs and toxicity reduction, making the medicinal material crispy and easy to crush. Previous studies have shown that the main chemical constituents of Bombyx Batryticatus include protein polypeptides, sterols, and flavonoids, with anticonvulsant, anticoagulation, antithrombotic, anti-cancer, hypnotic, hypoglycemic, and other pharmacological effects. This paper reviewed the processing historical evolution, chemical constituents, and pharmacological effects of Bombyx Batryticatus to lay a foundation for the research on the processing mechanism, quality control, and active core substances of Bombyx Batryticatus.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Various toxic medicinal materials have been used by different ethnic minorities in China for thousands of years because of their extraordinary pharmacological activities. However, the improper use and complex toxicity-efficacy relationship could cause poisoning and even death. Therefore, the study of toxicity-attenuating methods and mechanisms is necessary., Aim of the Study: This review aims to summarize commonly used toxic ethnomedicines and their processing methods as well as the underlying mechanisms to potentially reduce toxicity and even enhance or preserve efficacy. Prospective for possible future investigations is also discussed., Materials and Methods: Processing methods and mechanisms are investigated mainly through literature review., Results: Processing methods with heating (boiling, stir frying, and steaming, etc.) and without heating (soaking) are usually used by Chinese ethnic minorities to attenuate the toxicity of ethnomedicines. Wheat bran, vinegar, wine, and herbal decoction are commonly used processing excipients. The mechanisms of detoxification by processing can be briefly summarized into three major categories: (1) direct elimination of impurities or reduction of toxic constituents' contents of ethnomedicines by cutting, washing, soaking or frosting; (2) chemical structure transformation of toxic constituents, such as alkaloids, glycosides, toxic proteins, animal toxicants, and mineral components, during heating and/or soaking; and (3) biological synergism or antagonism effects between the chemical constituents of processing excipients and ethnomedicines in vivo, to reduce toxicity and protect target organs., Conclusion: Toxic ethnomedicines have long been used in China, and detoxification by processing is the prerequisite for their safe clinical application. However, understanding on the special processing methods and detoxification mechanisms of ethnomedicines in China remains insufficient. Investigations on quality control of toxic ethnomedicines, as well as evaluation of processing methods and studies of the corresponding mechanisms should be further strengthened for safe and effective clinical application., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The current study examined the associations between basic auditory perception, speech prosodic processing, and vocabulary development in Chinese kindergartners, specifically, whether early basic auditory perception may be related to linguistic prosodic processing in Chinese Mandarin vocabulary acquisition. A series of language, auditory, and linguistic prosodic tests were given to 100 preschool children who had not yet learned how to read Chinese characters. The results suggested that lexical tone sensitivity and intonation production were significantly correlated with children's general vocabulary abilities. In particular, tone awareness was associated with comprehensive language development, whereas intonation production was associated with both comprehensive and expressive language development. Regression analyses revealed that tone sensitivity accounted for 36% of the unique variance in vocabulary development, whereas intonation production accounted for 6% of the variance in vocabulary development. Moreover, auditory frequency discrimination was significantly correlated with lexical tone sensitivity, syllable duration discrimination, and intonation production in Mandarin Chinese. Also it provided significant contributions to tone sensitivity and intonation production. Auditory frequency discrimination may indirectly affect early vocabulary development through Chinese speech prosody. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China is the world’s largest market for pecans and imports more than a third of the U.S. pecan crop to meet its needs. Since 2008, pecan cultivation in China has been a rapidly growing industry. This paper summarizes the history of pecan importation and cultivation in China, the suitability of various cultivars for different regions, propagation techniques, major pests and diseases, pecan processing, and relevant research conducted in China. We also discuss current issues with pecan production in China and possible solutions to these challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: The root of Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) DC. has been used in China for more than 2000 years to treat various diseases including diabetes mellitus (DM) and its complications. Steamed rehmannia root (SRR) is one of the mainly used forms. During its preparation, the material has the chance to be exposed to microorganisms, particularly yeast. The aim of this study is to verify the effect of SRR on diabetes complications and the necessity of yeast exposure. Materials and methods: Water extract of SRR was incubated with alcohol yeast to obtain fermented SRR (FSRR). Alloxan-induced diabetic rats were administrated with medicated animal chows for 8 weeks. Urine volume, fasted blood glucose and food intake were monitored, and open field test and tail immersion test were conducted in the last week, plasma and urine samples were subjected to biochemical examinations. Results: In DM rats, defecation in open field test was found reduced, and tail flick latency in tail immersion test increased. In the meantime, urinary excretions of Na+, K+, aldosterone, albumin and creatinine increased, and plasma concentrations of Na+, K+ and creatinine reduced and those of aldosterone, TXB2/6-Keto-PGF1α and urea nitrogen elevated. Most of these indicators were significantly improved by FSRR administration, but the effects of SRR were relatively inferior in several aspects. However, SRR and FSRR could not improve the typical symptoms of DM. Conclusions: Our data demonstrated that both SRR and FSRR have no obvious hypoglycemic effect, but have the potential to prevent the onset and development of diabetes complications, and this function can be improved by yeast exposure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Pu-erh tea is a unique microbial fermented tea produced from the sun-dried leaves of large-leaf tea species (Camellia sinensis (Linn.) var. assamica (Masters) Kitamura) in the Yunnan province of China. Pu-erh tea has become increasingly popular in Southeast Asia may be due to its multiple health benefits. The special sensory characteristics of Pu-erh tea arise from the multitudinous chemical changes and transformations of the chemical constituents of the sun-dried green tea leaves that occur during the post-fermentation process. Many functional components have been isolated from Pu-erh tea and identified. In this paper, modern processing techniques and their effects on the transformation of the chemical constituents and the major chemical components of Pu-erh tea are reviewed and discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Prior research on relative clauses (RCs) in Mandarin Chinese has led to conflicting results regarding ease of processing subject-extracted RCs (SRCs) versus object-extracted RCs (ORCs) and has often used animacy configurations that are rare in corpora. Building on animacy patterns observed in a corpus, we used self-paced reading to explore how animacy influences real-time processing of Chinese RCs. Experiment 1 tested SRCs, and found marginal facilitation effects with animate heads (subjects) and inanimate objects. Experiment 2 tested ORCs and found significant facilitation effects with inanimate head (objects). Experiment 3 showed that when the subject is animate and the object inanimate, ORCs are as easy to process as SRCs, but when the subject is inanimate and the object is animate, SRCs are processed faster. Thus, the animacy of the head and the embedded noun must be taken into account when evaluating processing ease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pig leather industry contributed significantly to the life of people all over the world, but serious water environmental problems have arisen. Investigation in tanneries with green pig hides in China showed that pollution resulted mainly from beamhouse operations. Assessment indicated that wastewater from pig-hides processing had: (1) wide variations of pH, (2) high levels of sulfide ( S2−) and chromium, (3) high levels of neutral salts and ammonia nitrogen ( NH4+- N), (4) high levels of suspended solids ( TSS) and oil & grease, and (5) low biodegradability. A tannery processing 10 000 pig hides per day generated chemical oxygen demand ( COD) of 3.81-12.31 tonnes and NH4+- N 0.27-1.06 tonnes, respectively. The pollution loads were equivalent to those of a city of 60 000-120 000 inhabitants, which has a COD of 3.9-10.56 tonnes/day and NH4+- N of 0.462-1.164 tonnes/day, respectively ( SEPAC). And nearly 30% of the tanneries discharged their wastewater by screening only or by primary treatment like coagulation-sedimentation, while the rest of them discharged directly into surface waters without any treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The roots of Polygonum multiflorum (Chinese name: He-Shou-Wu, HSW) are used in traditional Chinese medicine for many diseases in processed form or raw state. There are reports dealing with the toxicity of HSW. However, the toxicity is caused by over dosage or by the herb itself remains unclear. We evaluated the toxicity of raw and processed HSW on Kunming (KM) mice. For raw HSW, the toxicity of water decocta is much higher than that of acetone extract. Meanwhile, the toxicity of acetone extract of raw HSW is considerably higher than that of acetone extract of processed HSW. HPLC analyses revealed that the contents of characteristic compounds in raw HSW were changed after processing: the content of 2,3,4′,5-tetrahydroxystilbene 2-O-β-d-glucoside was decreased by 55.8%, whereas the content of emodin was increased by 34.0%. Thus, processing could reduce the toxicity of HSW. Thus, the toxicity of HSW does not depend on the content of anthranoid derivatives, it may be correlated with the content of tetrahydroxystilbene glucosides. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Bauxite resources and their beneficiation are becoming increasingly important for study in order to sustain the rapid progress of the aluminum industry in China. Some industrial practices in the processing of bauxite resources, such as selective grinding, magnetic separation, and flotation, as well as some recent research efforts are summarized in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The status and function of Chinese rabbit hair industry in the national economy and foreign trade export were illustrated briefly in this paper. Development trend and influence of rabbit hair manufacture and process in our country was elaborated by the variation of textile market at home and abroad, which also influenced the rabbit hair market. The problem in the rabbit hair industry development was indicated. In order to assure the important status of Chinese rabbit hair industry in the world, the attentive problem was proposed in the manufacture and product research of rabbit hair. Scientific and technological workers to protect our good rabbit hair raw materials, to carry out multi-faceted product development and other issues should rabbit hair industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alismatis rhizoma (AR) has been used as an herbal medicine in China for over a thousand years. Crude AR, salt-processed AR (SAR), and bran-processed AR (BAR) are recorded in the Pharmacopoeia of the People′s Republic of China. However, the differences of chemical composition between crude AR and its processing products remain limited. In this study, triterpenes were identified from crude AR, SAR, and BAR by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight-mass spectrometer (UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS). Subsequently, the differences of triterpenes between the crude AR and processed ARs were compared via a targeted metabolomics approach. Finally, a total of 114 triterpenes were identified, of which 83, 100, and 103 triterpenes were found in crude AR, SAR, and BAR, respectively. After salt-processing, there were 17 triterpenes newly generated, 7 triterpenes with trends of increasing, and 37 triterpenes decreased. Meanwhile, 56 triterpenes including 21 newly generated and 35 with significant increases were observed in BAR. This study could be benefit to investigate the processing mechanism of AR, as well as support their clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coker gas oil from Daqing, Shengli, and Liaohe, which are three famous oil fields in China, are studied. The properties, chemical composition, and structural composition of coker gas oil from Daqing, Shengli, and Liaohe saturated hydrocarbon are analyzed. The results show that nitrogen and sulfur content in Daqing coker gas oil is the lowest, and saturated hydrocarbon content is the highest, and Daqing coker gas oil is the most easily processed raw material, and Liaohe coker gas oil mediates between two raw materials, but Shengli coker gas oil is the most difficult to process. By comparing with vacuum gas oil and nitrogen, sulfur content and carbon residue in the coker gas oils is higher and saturated hydrocarbon content is lower. Shengli coker gas oil is a somewhat inferior raw material. The factor of effecting on the processing and use of coker gas oil are analyzed, and the processing ways of coker gas oil are put forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports results from a self-paced reading study in Chinese that demonstrates that object-extracted relative clause structures are less complex than corresponding subject-extracted structures. These results contrast with results from processing other Subject-Verb-Object languages like English, in which object-extracted structures are more complex than subject-extracted structures. A key word-order difference between Chinese and other Subject-Verb-Object languages is that Chinese relative clauses precede their head nouns. Because of this word order difference, the results follow from a resource-based theory of sentence complexity, according to which there is a storage cost associated with predicting syntactic heads in order to form a grammatical sentence. The results are also consistent with a theory according to which people have less difficulty processing embedded clauses whose word order matches the word order in main clauses. Some corpus analyses of Chinese texts provide results that constrain the classes of possible frequency-based theories. Critically, these results demonstrate that there is nothing intrinsically easy about extracting from subject position: depending on the word order in the main clause and in a relative clause, extraction from object position can be easier to process in some circumstances. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Tianxiong has been used as a Chinese medicinal in China for thousands of years, and the earliest record can be traced back to the Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica. It is effective in dispersing wind, dissipating cold, and replenishing fire to streng-then yang. To clarify the origin of Tianxiong, the present herbalogical study reviewed the ancient and modern literature from the origin, processing, and clinical efficacy. Before the Tang Dynasty, although the description of Tianxiong was quite superficial, an apparent difference between Tianxiong and Fuzi was recognized. In the Tang and Song Dynasties, Tianxiong and Fuzi were mistakenly recognized to be prepared from a same plant since their raw materials came from artificial cultivation. Medical literature in the Ming and Qing Dynasties mostly followed the previous records, with the origin of Tianxiong remaining controversial. There were three mainstream views about the origin of Tianxiong according the ancient medical books. First, Tianxiong was a kind of Aconiti Radix(Chuanwu) without attachment of Fuzi. Second, Tianxiong was the large Fuzi. Third, Tianxiong derived from Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix(Caowu) about 10 cm in length. By contrast, Fuzi in a large size was simply regarded as Tianxiong in modern times. The processing methods were diversified in the ancient times, and the fire-processing was continuously applied. With the deepening of the research on the efficacy and detoxification mechanism, more methods were discovered, such as processing with ginger juice, child's urine and alcohol. As for modern times, the processing of Tianxiong has not been nearly passed down. The characteristic processing of Tianxiong only handed down in Sichuan province and Lingnan area, which can be discriminated by the last step. The efficacies of Tianxiong can be directly understood from its literal name, including dispersing wind, dissipating cold, and replenishing fire to assist yang. Nowadays, Tianxiong is mostly used to strengthen yang.

As a representative foreign medicinal material, olibanum(Ruxiang) was imported to China since the Qin and Han Dynasties. Olibanum was first described as a medicinal by the name &quot;Xunluxiang&quot; in Miscellaneous Records of Famous Physicians(Ming Yi Bie Lu). This study investigated historical records on olibanum and conducted the herbalogical study. It was found that olibanum came from the resin mainly obtained from the bark of Pistacia lenticus before the Tang Dynasty. With the prosperity of the Maritime Silk Road, instead, the resin obtained from the bark of Boswellia carterii was mainly used as olibanum. In ancient time, the oleo-gum-resin secreted from the cut bark was collected in spring and summer, and the quality was judged based on transparency and shape. The processing methods of olibanum went through many evolutions, which changed from simple methods such as grinding and frying to complex methods such as levigating and grinding with wine, and now to frying and processing with vinegar. The usage of olibanum included alchemy, folk and religious incense, bathing, cosmetic and medicinal since ancient times. From the Song Dynasty, olibanum had been mainly used as medicinal because of its good effect to treat wounds. In traditional Chinese medicine, olibanum unblocks menstruation, relieves pain and reduces swelling and generated muscles. The medicinal efficacy of olibanum is not much different from ancient to modern. Only the efficacy of replenishing energy and promoting the movement of Qi was rarely mentioned in modern reference. In this article, the historical evolutions of olibanum about original plants, processing and medicinal efficacy were sorted out. The results could provide historical basis for the further development and clinical utilization of olibanum.

Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus is a both medicinal and edible species specified by the China Ministry of Health, with a long history in China. According to the ancient monographs about materia medica, it was found that the records of the Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus on the original plants were confused. This paper reviewed the ancient monographs about materia medica, and made a summarization and textual research on the name, origin, habitat, processing methods, medicinal properties and clinicacy efficacy of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus based the comprehensive analysis on modern literatures and authoritative books of Chinese herbal medicine. The results indicated that there were many bynames of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus. Before the Yuan Dynasty, there was a mixed use of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus and Citri Fructus, which were not distinguished from each other in terms of nature and taste until the Yuan dynasty. Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus was a varietas of Citri Fructus. The main shape of the original plant of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus is &quot;like a human hand with fingers&quot; as recorded in ancient monographs about materia medica. The main places of origin of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus were Guangdong, Zhejiang, Fujian, Sichuan, which were relatively stable. There were fewer records about medicinal proces-sing methods of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus. Only steaming and baking methods were found in ancient monographs about materia medica, and the steaming method could reduce the irritability of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus. The processing of therapeutic dietary of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus was widely used in folk, which was represented by Chaozhou Laoxianghuang, a traditional succade made of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus. According to the 2015 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus had effects in soothing liver and regulating gas, relieving pain in the stomach, eliminating dampness and resolving phlegm, which was basically consistent with the descriptions in ancient monographs about materia medica. This paper defined the original plant of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus, and sorted out and summarized the processing methods, nature and taste of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus, so as to provide data support for the standardization of the processing technology and the development and utilization of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus.

The historical preparation methods of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma were summarized and analyzed by consulting relevant literatures of herbal medicines and medical classics. This study also reviewed the records of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma processing methods in previous editions of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia and the regulations on processing technology of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma decoction pieces in China. This paper summarized the processing history of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and defined the development process of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma processing. According to textual research from ancient times to today, there are many ways to process Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma. The processing methods without auxiliary materials include braising, frying, cooking, simmering and adding such auxiliary materials as wine, vinegar, salt, oil, ginger, honey, water and bile. There are 9 editions of the published Chinese Pharmacopoeia that document the processing of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, and 24 provinces and cities nationwide record the processing of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma. At present, the 2015 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia only records the processing technology of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma honey, and the honey processing method is still widely usedtoday. Whether or not Zhigancao should be used uniformly for honey-processed Zhigancao today should be based on the processing methods of Chinese herbal medicine and its clinical use in previous ancient medical books. This paper provides a reference and historical basis for subsequent studies on other processing techniques of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, the rational selection of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma varieties and the further development and utilization of corresponding medicinal materials.

"Huangbo" is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine in clinic,which is mainly divided into " Chuanhuangbo" and " Guanhuangbo" in the market today. It's better to use thick and dark stem bark as medicine. This study combed the germplasms of " Huangbo" in Chinese herbal medicines and ancient medical books,which showed that the name,origin and processing of " Huangbo" had undergone evolution and changes since the ancient times. The results showed that " Huangbo" was first known as " Bomu" from " Sheng Nong's Herbal Classic". There was an attached name " Tanhuan" and the alias " Huangbo" besides " Bomu" in herbal books in Tang and Song Dynasty. Before Tang Dynasty, " Bomu" was mainly originated from stems or roots of Berberis species in Berberiaceae,and then it was mainly derived from the dry bark of Phellodendron chinense in Rutaceae since Song Dynasty. In Ming Dynasty,some herbal books recorded it name as " Huangbo",whose origin and medicinal parts remained unchanged,taking Sichuan as the best producing area. During the Republic of China era,the name " Huangbo" has evolved to " Huangbo",and the variety differentiation of " Chuanhuangbo", " Guanhuangbo" and " Yanghuangbo" appeared,in which " Guanhuangbo" was mainly derived from Ph. amurense Rupr.. In modern times,although species differentiation still exists in " Huangbo",the market is still dominated by " Chuanhuangbo".

The trade volume of imported dairy products is increasing with the increase of per capita consumption of dairy products, thus it is the great significant thing to control the quality of dairy products from other countries. The investigation finds that the proline content of imported liquid milk ultra high temperature instantaneous sterilization (UHT) milk (commonly known as normal temperature milk) is significantly higher than that of domestic UHT milk, that a risk of overheating and adding reconstituted milk exists for the imported UHT milk. Although it is currently unable to regulate the source and processing technology of imported dairy products, some certain indicators that reflect the process conditions are often used to monitor the quality of dairy products in the field of heat treatment process control of dairy products. Proline is produced during the processing of dairy products and is a marker that reflects the processing conditions. This paper briefly describes the research status of nine markers used to evaluate in the processing of dairy products at home and abroad, with the aim of providing a theoretical basis for improving the regulatory system for the processing of dairy products in China, and to protect consumer rights.

Aconitums,represented by Aconite Radix,Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata and Aconiti Kusnezoffh Folium,is a kind of traditional Chinese medicine with a long medicinal history in China. They possess the significant toxicity and therapeutic effects simultaneously. Their potent effects of rescuing from dying,curing rheumatism,anti-inflammation,and analgesia make Aconitums highly regarded by physicians and pharmacists of various dynasties. However,countless poisoning cases caused by an irrational use of Aconitums were reported. In case of improper application and exceeding the therapeutic window,the acute cardiotoxicity and neurotoxicity would be caused,seriously threatening health and even life of the users. Therefore,the clinical application of Aconitums is limited to some extent. To avoid its toxicity and ensure the safety of medicinal use,Aconitums is usually used in a form of its processed products instead of the crude herbs,or combined with some other traditional Chinese medicines in a normal prescription. A proper processing and compatibility method can detoxicate its severe toxicity,reduce the adverse reactions,and also significantly broaden the indications and application range of Aconitums. This provides a guarantee for the secondary exploitation and utilization of Aconitums. In this paper,the traditional processing methods of Aconitums,along with the modern advancement were reviewed,and the mechanisms of detoxification by processing and compatibility were also illuminated. The physical detoxification mode and chemical detoxification mode were found as two main detoxification ways for Aconitums. In particular,the detoxification by hydrolysis,ion-pair,and saponification were three main means. The mechanisms illustrated in this paper can be a reference to the development of modern processing method and a guidance for appropriate use of Aconitums in clinical application.