Dissolution of kaolinite induced by citric, oxalic, and malic acids

Kaolinite is a dominant clay mineral in the soils in tropical and Subtropical regions, and its dissolution has an influence on a variety of soil properties. In this work, kaolinite dissolution induced by three kinds of low-molecular-weight organic acid, i.e., citric, oxalic, and malic acids, was evaluated under far-from-equilibrium conditions. The rates of kaolinite dissolution depended on the kind and concentration of organic acids, with the sequence R-oxalate > R-citrate > R-malate. Chemical calculation showed the change in concentration of organic ligand relative to change in concentration of organic acid in suspensions of kaolinite and organic acid. The effect of organic acid on kaolinite dissolution was modeled by species of organic anionic ligand. For oxalic acid, L-oxalic(2-) and HLoxalic- jointly enhanced the dissolution of kaolinite, but for malic and citric acids, HLmalic- and H2Lcitric- made a higher contribution to the total dissolution rate of kaolinite than L-malic(2-) and L-citric(3-), respectively. For oxalic acid, the proposed model was R-Si = 1.89 x 10(-12) x [(25x)/(1+25x)] + 1.93 x 10(-12) x [(1990x(1))/(1+1990x(1))] (R-2 = 0.9763), where x and x(1) denote the concentrations of HLoxalic and L-oxalic, respectively, and x(1) = 10(-3.81) x x/[H+]. For malic acid, the model was R-Si =4.79 x 10(-12) x [(328-v)/(1+328x)] + 1.67 x 10(-13) x [(1149x(1))/(1+1149x(1))] (R-2 =0.9452), where x and x(1) denote the concentrations of HLmalic and L-malic, respectively, and x(1) = 10(-5.11) x x/[H+], and for citric acid, the model was R-Si = 4.73 x 10(-12) x [(845x)/(1+845x)] +4.68 x 10(-12) x [(2855x(1))/(1+2855x(1))] (R-2 =0.9682), where x and x(1) denote the concentrations of H2Lcitric and L-citric, respectively, and x(1) = 10(-11.16) x x/[H+](2). (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

外源草酸对采后果实的保鲜效应及其生理机理研究

本文以桃(Prunus persica L. cv. Bayuecui.)栽培种‘八月脆’和芒果（Mangifera indica L.）栽培种‘圣心’为材料，研究外源草酸对采后果实的生理生化效应及其作用机理，为果实贮藏保鲜提供新方法。采后桃果实用1、5 mM的草酸溶液浸果10 min，以浸水10 min为对照，然后在常温下贮藏，测定果实在贮藏期间对草酸处理的一些生理生化反应。芒果经采后杀菌剂（post- P）、采后草酸（post-OA）、采前＋采后草酸（pre-OA + post-OA）、采前Ca ＋ 采后草酸处理（pre-Ca + post-OA）处理，以采后浸水为对照，然后分别将果实在常温(25 C)、低温（14 C）和控制性气调（3% CO2 + 2% O2 ，14 ± 1 C）下贮藏，测定草酸处理对芒果的成熟进程、病情发展及其相关生理指标的影响。研究结果表明如下： 1．与对照相比，草酸处理的桃果实在贮藏期间果实的电解质渗漏量和呼吸速率降低、果实硬度高、果实的抗氧化酶（超氧化物岐化酶、SOD;过氧化物酶，POD;过氧化氢酶、CAT;抗坏血酸过氧化物酶、APX）和多酚氧化酶（PPO）活性提高、脂氧合酶（LOX）活性降低。同时，在贮藏后期，果实的活性氧自由基（ROS）产量（超氧阴离子、O2.;过氧化氢、H2O2)和丙二醛（MDA）含量降低。草酸的这些生理效应有利于保持膜的完整性和延缓桃果实的成熟;草酸诱导POD、SOD、PPO活性可能有助于提高采后果实的抗病性。 2．外源5、10 mM浓度的草酸（pH值中和或不中和）对芒果炭疽病原菌（Colletotrichum gloeosporioides）孢子萌发和菌丝生长均表现出显著的抑制作用。这种作用不仅与草酸降低培养基（PDA）的pH值相关，而且与草酸独特的化学特性相关。 3．在常温、低温和控制性气调贮藏下，采后草酸、采前 + 采后草酸、采前Ca + 采后草酸处理均能有效减缓芒果果实的软化速率，延缓芒果的成熟进程，降低芒果的病情指数，同时改善芒果成熟时的表皮着色，对果实完全后熟时的可溶性固形物（SSC）、可滴定酸（TA）含量、果肉口感均没有产生负面的影响。 4．草酸处理增强芒果细胞膜的稳定性，诱导提高芒果抗氧化酶活性，特别是提高果皮SOD、APX活性，降低LOX活性，以及降低果皮O2.、H2O2 和果肉H2O2含量，抑制采后果实的乙烯生物合成。这些生理生化效应与延缓芒果的成熟衰老和提高果实的抗病性相关。 5． 采后草酸、采前 + 采后草酸和采前Ca + 采后草酸处理表现出高效低廉、无毒无副作用、易操作等优点，是芒果采后贮藏保鲜的可供选、具有实际应用前景的新方法。

果实成熟衰老与抗病性的调控机制研究

　　果实为开花植物所特有的发育器官，在种子的成熟和传播过程中发挥着重要作用。同时，肉质果实中含有丰富的营养物质，包括纤维素、维生素、抗氧化剂等，成为人们饮食的重要组成部分。由于果实的成熟衰老和抗病性直接影响果品的质量和市场价值，因此，研究果实成熟衰老和抗病性的调控机制具有重要的理论意义和应用前景。本文主要利用蛋白质组学的方法，探讨外源化学物质抑制果实成熟衰老和诱导抗病性的调控机制。 1. 硅对果实的抗病性诱导：用硅酸钠（1%）处理采后的甜樱桃果实，再接种褐腐病原菌（Molinilia fracticola），置于20C下，观测贮藏期间果实的发病率，并分析硅处理后诱导的主要蛋白质及调控机制。研究结果表明：硅酸钠处理可显著抑制贮藏期间褐腐病的发生，其抑病机理与硅诱导PR-蛋白的表达，提高果实的抗氧化水平，减轻由病原菌侵染造成的氧化胁迫相关。同时，硅处理还能保护细胞骨架结构，有利于增强果实对病原菌入侵的抵抗力。 2. 水杨酸对果实的抗病性诱导：用水杨酸（SA，2mM）在果园处理三种成熟度的甜樱桃果实，然后接种青霉病原菌（Penicillium expansum）观察其发病情况，并取样分析参与抗病性应答的主要蛋白质及调控机制。试验结果表明：SA处理能显著降低青霉病的发病率和抑制病斑扩展，而且SA对低成熟度甜樱桃果实的抗性诱导效果更好。在八成熟的果实中，有5个热激蛋白和4个脱氢酶蛋白被SA诱导，这些蛋白参与了糖酵解和三羧酸循环。抗氧化蛋白和PR蛋白主要参与较低成熟度果实的抗性应答，而热激蛋白和脱氢酶在较高成熟度果实的抗性应答中更明显，SA诱导的抗性与代谢途径相关。 　　3. 草酸对果实的抗性诱导：用5mM的草酸处理冬枣果实后，接种青霉菌（P. expansum），观察果实发病情况，测定果实相关的生理指标，分析参与果实抗性应答的主要蛋白质及调控机制。结果表明：草酸能明显延缓冬枣果实的衰老，提高果实对青霉菌的抗性。草酸处理能抑制果实乙烯的释放量和呼吸强度，延缓叶绿素的降解，减少乙醇积累。利用蛋白质组学的研究方法证实了在25个参与了草酸处理应答的蛋白中，胱硫醚-β-合酶结构域包含蛋白（CBB domain-containing protein）和3个与光合作用相关蛋白[二磷酸核酮糖羧化酶/加氧酶（Ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase activase, chloroplast precursor），二磷酸核酮糖羧化酶/加氧酶大亚基结合蛋白（RuBisCO large subunit-binding protein subunit beta, chloroplast precursor），植物光系统Ⅱ放氧复合蛋白2（PSII oxygen-evolving complex protein 2）]的表达量上调，乙醇脱氢酶的表达量出现下调。草酸处理还提高了与乙烯合成前体相关蛋白的表达，抑制了ACC合成酶的活性。草酸提高果实抗病的机制与延缓果实成熟衰老和保持果实抗性有关。 4. 果实衰老的调控机制：采用高氧（100%）和低氧（2-3%）处理苹果果实，观察果实衰老的进程，并基于蛋白质组学的研究方法，探讨苹果果实衰老与线粒体蛋白质组的关系。结果表明，在苹果衰老过程中有22个蛋白的表达量发生变化，这些蛋白主要参与了三羧酸循环，电子传递，碳代谢和胁迫应答。高氧处理能诱导氧化胁迫，加速了果实的衰老。质谱鉴定结果证明：在高氧胁迫下，超氧化物歧化酶（manganese superoxide dismutase，MnSOD）和线粒体外膜通道蛋白（porin) 的表达量降低，MnSOD的活性受到抑制，由此提高了线粒体中超氧阴离子的含量，增加了蛋白质的氧化损伤。 此外，高氧处理改变了porin的功能，导致了线粒体膜的透势发生变化，从而引起外膜损伤。由此阐明了活性氧在果实的成熟衰老调控中的重要作用。

Degradation of 17 alpha-ethinylestradiol in aqueous solution by ozonation

This study investigates the ozonation of 17 alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE2) in aqueous solution. The affecting factors on the degradation of EE2 were studied and described in details, such as initial EE2 concentration, initial pH value and ozone concentration. In addition, some parameters such as pH. electrical conductivity, mineralization efficiency and degradation products were monitored during the process. The mineralization efficiency of EE2 could reach 53.9%. During the ozonation process the rapid decrease of pH and the sharp increase of electrical conductivity indicated the fort-nation of acidic by-products, small fragments and ions which were confirmed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GUMS) analysis. Results showed that there were intermediate products of smaller molecule with higher polarity produced during the course of EE2 degradation. Then a possible reaction pathway for EE2 degradation involving all intermediates detected is proposed. During the ozonation process EE2 was first oxidized into hydroxyl-semiquinone isomers which were subsequently degraded into low molecular weight compounds such as oxalic acid, malonate, glutarate, and so on. Furthermore. these organic acids are easily oxidized by ozone into carbon dioxide (CO2). This work shows that ozonation process is promising for the removal of EE2. The results can provide some useful information for the potential treatment of EE2 by ozonation in aqueous solution. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of several organic acids on the feeding behavior of Tilapia nilotica

Automatic recording of the frequency of feeding 'bites' was used to evaluate the effects of several organic acids (citric, metacectonic, lactic, acetic, and oxalic) on the stimulatory feeding behavior of Tilapia nilotica . Some of these acids are added to food stocks to retard spoilage. The results showed that citric acid at a concentration of 10(-2) to 10(-6) m, metacetonic acid at 10(-4) to 10(-6) m, and lactic acid at 10(-2) to 10(-5) m stimulated feeding. Fish tended to avoid metacetonic acid at 10(-3) m and acetic acid at 10(-3) m. Acetic acid at 10(-5) m and oxalic acid at 10(-6) m had no significant effects on fish feeding.

Preparation and AFM characterization of self-ordered porous alumina films on semi-insulated gaas substrate

Self-ordered porous alumina films on a semi-insulated GaAs substrate were prepared in oxalic acid aqueous solutions by three-step anodization. The I-t curve of anodization process was recorded to observe time effects of anodization. Atomic force microscopy was used to investigate structure and morphology of alumina films. It was revealed that the case of oxalic acid resulted in a self-ordered porous structure, with the pore diameters of 60-70 nm, the pore density of the order of about 10(10) pore cm(-2), and interpore distances of 95-100nm. At the same time the pore size and shape change with the pore widening time. Field-enhanced dissolution model and theory of deformation relaxation combined were brought forward to be the cause of self-ordered pore structure according to I-t curve of anodization and structure characteristics of porous alumina films. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Preparation and AFM characterization of self-ordered porous alumina films on semi-insulated gaas substrate

Self-ordered porous alumina films on a semi-insulated GaAs substrate were prepared in oxalic acid aqueous solutions by three-step anodization. The I-t curve of anodization process was recorded to observe time effects of anodization. Atomic force microscopy was used to investigate structure and morphology of alumina films. It was revealed that the case of oxalic acid resulted in a self-ordered porous structure, with the pore diameters of 60-70 nm, the pore density of the order of about 10(10) pore cm(-2), and interpore distances of 95-100nm. At the same time the pore size and shape change with the pore widening time. Field-enhanced dissolution model and theory of deformation relaxation combined were brought forward to be the cause of self-ordered pore structure according to I-t curve of anodization and structure characteristics of porous alumina films. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

NiO removal of Ni/Au Ohmic contact to p-GaN after annealing

The Ni/Au contact was treated with oxalic acid after annealing in O_2 ambient, and its I-V characteristic showed the property of contact has been obviously improved. An Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) depth pro-file of the contact as-annealed showed that the top layer was highly resistive NiO, while an X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy (XPS) of oxalic acid treated samples indicated that the NiO has been removed effectively. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to observe the surface morphology of the contacts, and it was found that the lacunaris surface right after annealing became quite smooth with lots of small Au exposed areas after oxalic acid treatment. When the test probe or the subsequently deposited Ti/Au was directly in contact with these small Au areas, they worked as low resistive current paths and thus decrease the specific contact resistance.