Bao Yang

Bio: Bao Yang is an academic researcher from Chinese Academy of Sciences. The author has contributed to research in topics: DPPH & Polysaccharide. The author has an hindex of 58, co-authored 251 publications receiving 10205 citations. Previous affiliations of Bao Yang include Lanzhou University & South China University of Technology.

East Asian warm season temperature variations over the past two millennia.

Abstract: East Asia has experienced strong warming since the 1960s accompanied by an increased frequency of heat waves and shrinking glaciers over the Tibetan Plateau and the Tien Shan. Here, we place the recent warmth in a long-term perspective by presenting a new spatially resolved warm-season (May-September) temperature reconstruction for the period 1–2000 CE using 59 multiproxy records from a wide range of East Asian regions. Our Bayesian Hierarchical Model (BHM) based reconstructions generally agree with earlier shorter regional temperature reconstructions but are more stable due to additional temperature sensitive proxies. We find a rather warm period during the first two centuries CE, followed by a multi-century long cooling period and again a warm interval covering the 900–1200 CE period (Medieval Climate Anomaly, MCA). The interval from 1450 to 1850 CE (Little Ice Age, LIA) was characterized by cooler conditions and the last 150 years are characterized by a continuous warming until recent times. Our results also suggest that the 1990s were likely the warmest decade in at least 1200 years. The comparison between an ensemble of climate model simulations and our summer reconstructions since 850 CE shows good agreement and an important role of internal variability and external forcing on multi-decadal time-scales.

Extraction of essential oils from five cinnamon leaves and identification of their volatile compound compositions

Abstract: Five cinnamon species, viz. Cinnamomum cassia, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Cinnamomum tamala, Cinnamomum burmannii, Cinnamomum pauciflorum, were chosen to prepare essential oils by hydrodistillation and to identify and quantify their volatile compound compositions. C. cassia was determined to have the highest yield (1.54%) of essential oil, followed by C. zeylanicum, C. pauciflorum, C. burmannii and C. tamala. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used to identify and quantify the volatile compound composition. The results indicated the apparent difference in the volatile compound compositions of essential oils between species. The total numbers of volatile compounds identified from C. cassia, C. zeylanicum, C. tamala, C. burmannii and C. pauciflorum leaves were 22, 22, 13, 6 and 21, respectively. trans-Cinnamaldehyde was found in the essential oil of each species, which was also the major volatile component of C. cassia and C. burmannii leaves. Besides trans-cinnamaldehyde, 3-methoxy-1,2-propanediol was the main volatile compound of C. cassia leaf, while eugenol of C. zeylanicumand, C. pauciflorum and C. burmannii leaves, and 5-(2-propenyl)-1,3-benzodioxole of C. tamala leaf were also the main substances. Industrial relevance The essential oil of cinnamon is an important bioactive substance which has many disease prevention effects. In this work, five species of cinnamon leaves were chosen as materials to prepare the essential oils. The yield of essential oil was determined. The volatile compounds of essential oil were identified by GC/MS analysis. The results showed the significant difference of volatile compound composition between species. trans-Cinnamaldehyde was detected to exist in all the species tested as an important volatile component. This work is helpful for extensive development of this medicinal herb.

Effect of degree of hydrolysis on the antioxidant activity of loach (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus) protein hydrolysates.

Abstract: Loach ( Misgurnus anguillicaudatus ) proteins were hydrolysed by papain and Protamex, the antioxidant activity of loach protein hydrolysates (LPH) was investigated. The results demonstrated that extensive hydrolysis by papain and Protamex led to the browning of the hydrolysates. When the degree of hydrolysis (DH) was 23%, hydrolysates prepared by papain (HA) exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity. The maximum values of the hydroxyl, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) radical scavenging activities and the reducing power were 56.1%, 95.5%, 2.80 mM and 1.46, respectively. The hydrolysates prepared by Protamex (HB) showed the strongest hydroxyl radical scavenging activity (55.0%) at DH 28%, DPPH radical scavenging activity (92.2%) and ABTS radical scavenging activity (2.81 mM) at DH 23%, and the reducing power (1.17) at DH 33%. At the same DH value, there were significant ( p Industrial relevance Loach has long been employed as a traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of many kinds of diseases. From our previous work, loach was determined to be a good source of protein (accounts for approximately 17% (w/w) of the body weight). In this work, loach proteins were hydrolyzed by papain and Protamex to specific extent. The effect of DH on the antioxidant activities of hydrolysates was investigated. The results indicated that loach protein hydrolysates were potent antioxidants which were significantly affected by DH. This research is helpful for extensive development of loach product.

Flavonoid contents and antioxidant activities from Cinnamomum species

Abstract: Cinnamomum has long been regarded as a food or medicinal plant. Leaves of five species of Cinnamomum, namely C. burmanni, C. cassia, C. pauciflorum, C. tamala and C. zeylanica, were chosen to investigate their antioxidant activities in this study. C. zeylanica exhibited the highest total phenolic content while C. burmanni had the highest flavonoid content among the five species. These five species were then screened for their antioxidant potentials using various in-vitro models such as total antioxidant capability, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, reducing power and superoxide anion scavenging activity at various concentrations. C. zeylanica showed the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity, total antioxidant activity and reducing power, while C. tamala exhibited the highest superoxide anion scavenging activity. By the analysis of the high performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode array detector (HPLC-DAD), three flavonoid compounds namely quercetin, kaempferol and quercetrin were identified and quantified. This study suggested that Cinnamomum leaf can be used potentially as a readily accessible source of natural antioxidants. Industrial relevance This study was focused to evaluate the antioxidant activities of five species of Cinnamomum leaf which is normally used in medicine and also used in food preparation. This study provided an alternative of utilizing Cinnamomum leaf as a readily accessible source of natural antioxidants in food and pharmaceutical industry.

Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis.

Abstract: Cause, conseguenze e strategie di mitigazione Proponiamo il primo di una serie di articoli in cui affronteremo l’attuale problema dei mutamenti climatici. Presentiamo il documento redatto, votato e pubblicato dall’Ipcc - Comitato intergovernativo sui cambiamenti climatici - che illustra la sintesi delle ricerche svolte su questo tema rilevante.

The IntCal20 Northern Hemisphere Radiocarbon Age Calibration Curve (0-55 cal kBP)

Abstract: Radiocarbon (14C) ages cannot provide absolutely dated chronologies for archaeological or paleoenvironmental studies directly but must be converted to calendar age equivalents using a calibration curve compensating for fluctuations in atmospheric 14C concentration. Although calibration curves are constructed from independently dated archives, they invariably require revision as new data become available and our understanding of the Earth system improves. In this volume the international 14C calibration curves for both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, as well as for the ocean surface layer, have been updated to include a wealth of new data and extended to 55,000 cal BP. Based on tree rings, IntCal20 now extends as a fully atmospheric record to ca. 13,900 cal BP. For the older part of the timescale, IntCal20 comprises statistically integrated evidence from floating tree-ring chronologies, lacustrine and marine sediments, speleothems, and corals. We utilized improved evaluation of the timescales and location variable 14C offsets from the atmosphere (reservoir age, dead carbon fraction) for each dataset. New statistical methods have refined the structure of the calibration curves while maintaining a robust treatment of uncertainties in the 14C ages, the calendar ages and other corrections. The inclusion of modeled marine reservoir ages derived from a three-dimensional ocean circulation model has allowed us to apply more appropriate reservoir corrections to the marine 14C data rather than the previous use of constant regional offsets from the atmosphere. Here we provide an overview of the new and revised datasets and the associated methods used for the construction of the IntCal20 curve and explore potential regional offsets for tree-ring data. We discuss the main differences with respect to the previous calibration curve, IntCal13, and some of the implications for archaeology and geosciences ranging from the recent past to the time of the extinction of the Neanderthals.

Drought-Induced Reduction in Global Terrestrial Net Primary Production from 2000 Through 2009

Abstract: Terrestrial net primary production (NPP) quantifies the amount of atmospheric carbon fixed by plants and accumulated as biomass. Previous studies have shown that climate constraints were relaxing with increasing temperature and solar radiation, allowing an upward trend in NPP from 1982 through 1999. The past decade (2000 to 2009) has been the warmest since instrumental measurements began, which could imply continued increases in NPP; however, our estimates suggest a reduction in the global NPP of 0.55 petagrams of carbon. Large-scale droughts have reduced regional NPP, and a drying trend in the Southern Hemisphere has decreased NPP in that area, counteracting the increased NPP over the Northern Hemisphere. A continued decline in NPP would not only weaken the terrestrial carbon sink, but it would also intensify future competition between food demand and proposed biofuel production.

Different glacier status with atmospheric circulations in Tibetan Plateau and surroundings

Abstract: Glacial melting in the Tibetan Plateau affects the water resources of millions of people. This study finds that—partly owing to changes in atmospheric circulations and precipitation patterns—the most intensive glacier shrinkage is in the Himalayan region, whereas glacial retreat in the Pamir Plateau region is less apparent.