Removal of imidacloprid and acetamiprid from tea infusions by microfiltration membrane

Removal of imidacloprid and acetamiprid in tea infusions by microfiltration membrane using dead‐end model was investigated in the present study. The results showed that microfiltration significantly promoted the removal of both pesticides (P < 0.05) in tea infusions. Furthermore, the extent of removal was strongly influenced by the pore size of membrane, operational pressure and the concentrations of tea infusions. The initial concentration of imidacloprid and acetamiprid showed no significant effect on their removal rates. The maximum removal rates were 79.7% for imidacloprid and 81.9% acetamiprid. The changes in major chemical components of tea infusions after microfiltration were evaluated. The results indicated that microfiltration caused no considerable changes in total polyphenols and total free amino acids, and small but statistically significant losses (6.3–18.0%) of eight catechins and three methylxanthines when filtration volume reached to 200 mL. The present study validated the application of microfiltration as a potentially feasible and promising method for the removal of imidacloprid and acetamiprid residues from tea infusions.     

Evaluation of microbial toxins,trace elements and sensory properties of a high-theabrownins instant Pu-erh tea produced using Aspergillus tubingensis via submerged fermentation

Theabrownins (TB) are polymeric phenolic compounds associated with the multiple bioactivities of Pu-erh tea, a post-fermented Chinese dark tea. High-TB instant Pu-erh tea was produced via a novel submerged fermentation (SF) using Aspergillus tubingensis and compared with samples produced commercially via the conventional solid-state fermentation (SSF). Viable microorganisms and microbial toxins, especially aflatoxins B₁, G₁, B₂, G₂, cyclopiazonic acid, fumonisins B₁, B₂, B₃ and ochratoxin A, were below the detection limit in all samples. Fewer microbial metabolites were found in SF instant tea compared with the SSF teas. Based on an adult consuming 1 g of instant Pu-erh tea daily, the dietary intake of investigated elements was below the safe limits recommended by various authorities. Tasters viewed the instant tea infusions as very mild, smooth, mellow and full. This suggested that submerged fermentation using A. tubingensis offers a speedy and safe alternative to commercial production of instant Pu-erh tea.     

Studies on the microstructure of the black-glazed bowl sherds excavated from the Jian kiln site of ancient China

The Jian kiln, located in present-day Jianyang county of Fujian province, mainly produced black-glazed tea bowls. Jian tea bowl was used as a utensil for tea tasting and was greatly appreciated by emperor Huizong of the Northern Song dynasty. The black glaze of Jian bowl was sometimes marked with streaks or spots, usually called “hare's fur” or “oil spot”, which are the crystalline markings of iron oxide precipitated during firing in the dragon kiln. In this study, black-glazed Jian bowl sherds excavated from the late Northern Song strata of Luhuaping and Daluhoumen Jian kiln sites were adopted as test samples. Based on the physico-chemical foundation for the formation of glaze microstructure, the correlation among composition, microstructure, and visual appearance has been investigated by means of energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, and field emission electron microscopy. For the first time, the study provides realizing proofs for two kinds of microstructural forming mechanics.     

气相色谱法测定新鲜茶叶中有机氯农药残留量

对新鲜茶树叶中六六六和滴滴涕共八种异构体的残留量进行测定,与同地点成品茶叶农药残留量相比较基本无差异。本法检测限为>1.8ng/g,回收率为78.2％-99.0％,相对标准偏差<10.0％。     

罐装降脂减肥果茶生产工艺的研究

本文介绍了以各种中药材为主要原料 ,配以茶叶为辅料 ,运用先进的处理方法制备降脂减肥果茶的生产工艺、质量标准 ,并对确定生产工艺的几个主要问题进行了探讨     

Copper bioavailability from breakfasts containing tea. Influence of the addition of milk

The influence of drinking tea on copper bioavailability is unclear, particularly when tea is consumed with food. A breakfast meal containing white bread, margarine, strawberry jam, cheese and tea, with or without milk, was digested in; vitro and the dialysis of copper investigated. Reference breakfasts were prepared with water and water with milk. Copper dialysability (percentage of copper dialysed) was markedly increased by tea. The influence of adding milk to tea was not significant. A second study was carried out in rats using the breakfasts containing tea and water. They were spiked with ⁶⁴Cu and given orally to the animals in a single dose. Whole-body ⁶⁴Cu retention was measured over a 4-day period after administration. In order to determine the true absorption of ⁶⁴Cu a control group of rats received the dose intraperitioneally. The results in vivo indicate a tendency to higher absorption and retention of ⁶⁴Cu with tea. Liver ⁶⁴Cu retention was significantly elevated by tea. Therefore, the presence of tea in a breakfast meal favours the formation of soluble low-molecular-weight ligands which can be absorbed and retained by rats. The concomitant increase in liver copper retetition may be associated with higher bioavailability and/or lower copper mobilisation.     

Next Generation Cereal Crop Yield Enhancement: From Knowledge of Inflorescence Development to Practical Engineering by Genome Editing

Artificial domestication and improvement of the majority of crops began approximately 10,000 years ago, in different parts of the world, to achieve high productivity, good quality, and widespread adaptability. It was initiated from a phenotype-based selection by local farmers and developed to current biotechnology-based breeding to feed over 7 billion people. For most cereal crops, yield relates to grain production, which could be enhanced by increasing grain number and weight. Grain number is typically determined during inflorescence development. Many mutants and genes for inflorescence development have already been characterized in cereal crops. Therefore, optimization of such genes could fine-tune yield-related traits, such as grain number. With the rapidly advancing genome-editing technologies and understanding of yield-related traits, knowledge-driven breeding by design is becoming a reality. This review introduces knowledge about inflorescence yield-related traits in cereal crops, focusing on rice, maize, and wheat. Next, emerging genome-editing technologies and recent studies that apply this technology to engineer crop yield improvement by targeting inflorescence development are reviewed. These approaches promise to usher in a new era of breeding practice.