Itemized determination of As, Sb, Bi, Se, and Ge in graphite sample by HG-AFS with high-temperature microwave digestion.

In this paper, we optimized a method for fast and accurate determination of five impurity elements (As, Sb, Bi, Se, and Ge) in graphite samples to overcome the shortcomings of existing methods, such as complicated equipment, cumbersome process, multiple-time preparation, separate determination, and large error in results. Graphite samples were digested with HNO-HSO-HClO-HF in a high-temperature and high-pressure microwave digestion apparatus, and the elements were extracted and determined separately by AFS (atomic fluorescence spectrometry). There is no element loss during the processing and analysis of this method.

Molecular evolution and phylogenomic analysis of complete chloroplast genomes of (Anacardiaceae).

is an oligo-specific ornamentally valuable genus with a disjunct distribution in the Northern Hemisphere. Traditionally, the taxonomy of was mainly based on leaf morphological characteristics. However, the limited availability of genomic information greatly hindered the study of molecular evolution and phylogeny of this genus.

Plastome evolution and phylogeny of the tribe Ruteae (Rutaceae).

Rutaceae is a large family, and the genus-level classification in the subfamilies or tribes of this family is not unified based on different taxonomic treatments. Until now, phylogenetic relationships of some genera in traditional tribe Ruteae have not been clearly resolved. In this study, seven new complete plastomes of this tribe were sequenced, and a comparative analysis was performed to investigate their plastome characteristics and evolution.

Dynamic evolution of the plastome in the Elm family (Ulmaceae).

This study compared the plastomes of Ulmaceae allowing analyses of the dynamic evolution, including genome structure, codon usage bias, repeat sequences, molecular mutation rates, and phylogenetic inferences. Ulmaceae is a small family in the order Rosales. This family consists of seven genera, including Ulmus, Zelkova, Planera, Hemiptelea, Phyllostylon, Ampelocera, and Holoptelea.

Complete chloroplast genome and phylogenetic analysis of (Sapindaceae), a rare plant from Southwest China.

is a rare and endangered species of the Sapindaceae with a very restricted distribution in Sichuan, China. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome of was characterized by assembly using high-throughput sequencing. The chloroplast genome was 155,702 bp in length; it contained a large single copy region (85,890 bp) and a small single copy region (18,100 bp), which were separated by a pair of 25,856-bp inverted repeat regions.

Optimization of Lithium Metaborate Fusion and Post-ultrasonic Extraction for Multi-element Determination in Graphite by ICP-AES.

Existing methods can not achieve rapid mass decomposition and multi-element analysis of graphite ore samples. In this study, it is found that molten lithium metaborate can destroy the structure of graphite, causing graphite C to be oxidized and decomposed in an oxygen environment. We have established a method for testing graphite ore samples with lithium metaborate at 950°C with melting-ultrasonic extraction-ICP-AES multi-element (Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, Si, and Ti) testing.

The complete chloroplast genome of (Rutaceae), an Endangered medicinal plant in southern China.

is an Endangered medicinal plant in southern China. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome sequence of was characterized by de novo assembly. The length of the whole chloroplast genome was 158,537 bp, containing a large single copy region (LSC) of 86,250 bp and a small single copy region (SSC) of 18,287 bp, which were separated by a pair of 27,000 bp inverted repeat regions (IRs).

Two lichens differing in element concentrations have similar spatial patterns of element concentrations responding to road traffic and soil input.

Two epiphytic lichens (Xanthoria alfredii, XAa; X. ulophyllodes, XAu) and soil were sampled at three sites with varied distances to a road in a semiarid sandland in Inner Mongolia, China and analyzed for concentrations of 42 elements to assess the contribution of soil input and road traffic to lichen element burdens, and to compare element concentration differences between the two lichens. The study showed that multielement patterns, Fe:Ti and rare earth element ratios were similar between the lichen and soil samples.

Transcriptome analysis of elaiosomes and seeds provide insights into fatty acid biosynthesis.

Background: Elaiosomes are specialized fleshy and edible seed appendages dispersed by ants. Lipids are the primary components of elaiosomes. is a well-known plant, the seeds of which are dispersed by ants.

Development, structure and evolutionary significance of seed appendages in Salix matsudana (Salicaceae).

The seeds of Salix and Populus (Salicaceae) are characterized by having numerous long hairs which loosely accompanying the seeds and a small annular appendage which surrounding the base of the seed along with tufted hairs. In this study, the complete development and detailed structure of the hairs and annular appendage in Salix matsudana were investigated using standard techniques for plant anatomy and histochemistry. The results show that the hairs originate successively from the single epidermal cells of the placenta (in megaspore mother cell phase) and funiculus (in eight-nucleate phase), and that their development consists of a progressive increase in cell size and an absence of cell division.

Elemental compositions of lichens from Duolun County, Inner Mongolia, China: Origin, road effect and species difference.

To assess the response of lichen elemental compositions to road traffic and species difference in the context of high dust input and anthropogenic emissions, two foliose epiphytic lichens (Phaeophyscia hirtuosa, PHh; Candelaria fibrosa, CAf) were sampled near a road adjacent to Dolon Nor Town (Duolun County, Inner Mongolia, China). Twenty elements (Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Sb, Sr, Ti, V and Zn) in lichen and surface soil samples were analysed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). The results demonstrate that lichen elemental compositions are highly influenced by both their natural environment and anthropogenic input.

Molecular Analysis of Chinese Celastrus and Tripterygium and Implications in Medicinal and Pharmacological Studies.

Celastrus and Tripterygium species, which are used in traditional Chinese medicine, have attracted much attention due to their anti-tumor promoting and neuroprotective activities, in addition to their applications in autoimmune disorders. However, systematic relationships between them and among species are unclear, and it may disturb their further medicinal utilization. In the present study, the molecular analysis of combined chloroplast and nuclear markers of all Chinese Celastrus and Tripterygium was performed, and clear inter- and intra-genus relationships were presented.

Lichen elemental composition distinguishes anthropogenic emissions from dust storm inputs and differs among species: Evidence from Xilinhot, Inner Mongolia, China.

To test the applicability of lichens in the biomonitoring of atmospheric elemental deposition in a typical steppe zone of Inner Mongolia, China, six foliose lichens (Physcia aipolia, PA; P. tribacia, PT; Xanthoria elegans, XE; X. mandschurica, XM; Xanthoparmelia camtschadalis, XPC; and Xp.

[Optimization of ICP-AES and ICP-MS Techniques for the Determination of Major, Minor and Micro Elements in Lichens].

Lichens are one of the best materials for air quality biomonitoring, and they have been widely used in atmospheric element deposition monitoring in many regions. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) are two efficient techniques widely used in quantifying and quantifying plant elements. However, elemental levels in lichens from some regions in China are much higher than in other plants, and their variation is highly dependent on space, time, species and elements.

Biogeography of the Malagasy Celastraceae: Multiple independent origins followed by widespread dispersal of genera from Madagascar.

Of the 97 currently recognized genera of Celastraceae, 19 are native to Madagascar, including six endemics. In this study we conducted the most thorough phylogenetic analysis of Celastraceae yet completed with respect to both character and taxon sampling, and include representatives of five new endemic genera. Fifty-one new accessions, together with 328 previously used accessions of Celastrales, were sampled for morphological characters, two rDNA gene regions, and two plastid gene regions.

Phylogeny of Celastrus L. (Celastraceae) inferred from two nuclear and three plastid markers.

This is the first comprehensive molecular investigation of the genus Celastrus L. Phylogenetic relationships within the genus were assessed based on sequences of two nuclear (ETS, ITS) and three plastid (psbA-trnH, rpl16 and trnL-F) regions using the Bayesian inference and the maximum parsimony methods. Our results show that Celastrus, together with Tripterygium, formed a maximal supported clade.

Phytochemical and genetic analyses of ancient cannabis from Central Asia.

The Yanghai Tombs near Turpan, Xinjiang-Uighur Autonomous Region, China have recently been excavated to reveal the 2700-year-old grave of a Caucasoid shaman whose accoutrements included a large cache of cannabis, superbly preserved by climatic and burial conditions. A multidisciplinary international team demonstrated through botanical examination, phytochemical investigation, and genetic deoxyribonucleic acid analysis by polymerase chain reaction that this material contained tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive component of cannabis, its oxidative degradation product, cannabinol, other metabolites, and its synthetic enzyme, tetrahydrocannabinolic acid synthase, as well as a novel genetic variant with two single nucleotide polymorphisms. The cannabis was presumably employed by this culture as a medicinal or psychoactive agent, or an aid to divination.

A new insight into Cannabis sativa (Cannabaceae) utilization from 2500-year-old Yanghai Tombs, Xinjiang, China.

A cache of shoots, leaves and fruits dated by (14)C at 2500 years B.P. were unearthed in the Yanghai Tombs, Turpan District in Xinjiang, China.