Observation of electron-antineutrino disappearance at Daya Bay

The Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment has measured a nonzero value for the neutrino mixing angle θ(13) with a significance of 5.2 standard deviations. Antineutrinos from six 2.9 GWth reactors were detected in six antineutrino detectors deployed in two near (flux-weighted baseline 470 m and 576 m) and one far (1648 m) underground experimental halls. With a 43,000 ton-GWth-day live-time exposure in 55 days, 10,416 (80,376) electron-antineutrino candidates were detected at the far hall (near halls). The ratio of the observed to expected number of antineutrinos at the far hall is R=0.940±0.011(stat.)±0.004(syst.). A rate-only analysis finds sin(2)2θ(13)=0.092±0.016(stat.)±0.005(syst.) in a three-neutrino framework.

Genetic differentiation of chinese indigenous meat goats ascertained using microsatellite information

To investigate the genetic diversity of seven Chinese indigenous meat goat breeds (Tibet goat, Guizhou white goat, Shannan white goat, Yichang white goat, Matou goat, Changjiangsanjiaozhou white goat and Anhui white goat), explain their genetic relationship and assess their integrity and degree of admixture, 302 individuals from these breeds and 42 Boer goats introduced from Africa as reference samples were genotyped for 11 microsatellite markers. Results indicated that the genetic diversity of Chinese indigenous meat goats was rich. The mean heterozygosity and the mean allelic richness (AR) for the 8 goat breeds varied from 0.697 to 0.738 and 6.21 to 7.35, respectively. Structure analysis showed that Tibet goat breed was genetically distinct and was the first to separate and the other Chinese goats were then divided into two sub-clusters: Shannan white goat and Yichang white goat in one cluster; and Guizhou white goat, Matou goat, Changjiangsanjiaozhou white goat and Anhui white goat in the other cluster. This grouping pattern was further supported by clustering analysis and Principal component analysis. These results may provide a scientific basis for the characteristization, conservation and utilization of Chinese meat goats.

Transition to seizure: from "macro"- to "micro"-mysteries

One of the most terrifying aspects of epilepsy is the sudden and apparently unpredictable transition of the brain into the pathological state of an epileptic seizure. The pathophysiology of the transition to seizure still remains mysterious. Herein we review some of the key concepts and relevant literatures dealing with this enigmatic transitioning of brain states. At the "MACRO" level, electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings at time display preictal phenomena followed by pathological high-frequency oscillations at the seizure onset. Numerous seizure prediction algorithms predicated on identifying changes prior to seizure onset have met with little success, underscoring our lack of understanding of the dynamics of transition to seizure, amongst other inherent limitation. We then discuss the concept of synchronized hyperexcited oscillatory networks underlying seizure generation. We consider these networks as weakly coupled oscillators, a concept which forms the basis of some relevant mathematical modeling of seizure transitions. Next, the underlying "MICRO" processes involved in seizure generation are discussed. The depolarization of the GABA(A) chloride reversal potential is a major concept, facilitating epileptogenesis, particularly in immature brain. Also the balance of inhibitory and excitatory local neuronal networks plays an important role in the process of transitioning to seizure. Gap junctional communication, including that which occurs between glia, as well as ephaptic interactions are increasingly recognized as critical for seizure generation. In brief, this review examines the evidence regarding the characterization of the transition to seizure at both the "MACRO" and "MICRO" levels, trying to characterize this mysterious yet critical problem of the brain state transitioning into a seizure.

Plasma levels of JAK2 mRNA in patients with chronic myeloproliferative diseases with and without V617F mutation: implications for prognosis and disease biology

The association of V617F JAK2 expression levels with disease behavior has not been studied in patients with nonchronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) myeloproliferative disease (MPD). We found plasma levels of total JAK2 mRNA to be higher in patients with non-CML MPD (n=175) than in CML patients (n=45) and normal controls (n=58) (each P<0.001). Overall survival was studied in 68 patients and showed positive correlation with levels of total and mutant JAK2 mRNA in patients with the V617F mutation, but not those without the mutation. These findings suggest that total JAK2 expression levels play a role in the biology of the disease in V617F-positive patients, and a therapy aiming at downmodulating the expression of the total JAK2 mRNA should be considered. In conclusion, we studied JAK2 total and V6217F mutant mRNA levels in plasma. We show high levels of JAK2 expression in MPD patients and these levels correlate with survival.

A novel mechanism: Erxian Decoction, a Chinese medicine formula, for relieving menopausal syndrome

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Many clinical and experimental reports demonstrated that Erxian Decoction (EXD) was effective in relieving menopausal syndrome.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The mechanisms of action of EXD were explored on the endocrine and antioxidant regimen.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Menopause causes a decline in both endocrine function and activities of antioxidant enzymes. In this study, 12-month-old female Sprague-Dawley-rats (SD-rats) with a low serum estradiol level were employed. Their endocrine functions after treatment with EXD were assessed by the determination of their serum estradiol level and ovarian mRNA levels of aromatase, which is a key enzyme for biosynthesis of estradiol. Meanwhile, superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx-1) in the liver were also determined to assess the effect of EXD on the antioxidant regimen.

RESULTS

Results revealed a significant elevation in serum estradiol level and the mRNA level of ovarian aromatase and liver CAT in the EXD-treated menopausal rat model.

CONCLUSIONS

The results obtained from mRNA and estradiol level of the present investigation revealed that the EXD relieves the menopausal syndrome involved an increase of endocrine and antioxidant function through, at least, the activation of aromatase and CAT detoxifying pathways.

Analysis of the UCHL1 genetic variant in Parkinson's disease among Chinese

The inverse association of the functional ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCHL1) S18Y variant with Parkinson's disease (PD) among Caucasian populations has been debated. We conducted a large-scale analysis to investigate the age-of-onset effect of the UCHL1 variant in PD among ethnic Chinese. Individual data sets from 5 centers comprising a total of 4088 study subjects were analyzed. In the univariate analysis, only data from 1 center showed a trend towards a protective effect among young subjects. However, in the combined analysis, no significant association between the UCHL1 variant and PD was detected (A allele frequency 0.531 vs. 0.528, p=0.87, OR 1.01, 95% CI 0.92-1.1). Among subjects less than 60 years old, the OR is 0.99 (95% CI 0.84-1.16, p=0.88). A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that family history, UCHL1 variant and the interaction of UCHL1 variant and age at onset (p=0.816) were not significantly associated with PD.

Soluble syndecan-1 (sCD138) as a prognostic factor independent of mutation status in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Syndecan-1 (sCD138) is a transmembrane heparan sulfate-bearing proteoglycan expressed in epithelial cells as well as hematopoietic cells that demonstrate plasmacytoid differentiation. Higher levels of sCD138 correlate with poor outcome in myeloma. We examined the association of circulating sCD138 levels in plasma with clinical behavior in 104 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. sCD138 levels were significantly higher in patients (median, 52.8 ng/ml; range, 13.4-252.7 ng/ml) than in healthy control subjects (median, 19.86; range, 14.49-33.14 ng/ml) (P < 0.01). Elevated sCD138 (>median, 52.8 ng/ml) was associated with significantly shorter survival (P = 0.0004); this association was independent of IgVH mutation status, beta2-microglobulin (beta2-M) level, and treatment history. Patients with mutated IgVH but high sCD138 levels (>52.8 ng/ml) had significantly shorter survival than those with mutated IgVH and lower levels of sCD138. Similarly, patients with unmutated IgVH but high sCD138 levels had significantly shorter survival than those with lower sCD138 levels and unmutated IgVH (P = 0.007). In a multivariate Cox regression model, only Rai stage, beta2-M, and sCD138 remained predictors of survival. These data suggest that sCD138 when combined with beta2-M and Rai stage, may replace the need for testing IgVH mutation status.

The coherence effect of surface plasmons on optical transmission in silver subwavelength hole arrays

We study the optical transmission through a silver film with subwavelength hole arrays, which is sandwiched by super-thin SiO2 layers. Based on finite-difference time-domain method, optical transmission and dispersion relation of surface plasmons are obtained. It is shown that surface plasmons are coherent in the top layer of the sandwich, which affects optical transmission in this subwavelength system. As a result, transmission modes can be tuned by changing the thickness of top layer. Resonant modes are also demonstrated by the electric field distribution. Besides, anti-resonances induced by Fano interference are also observed in this system. These properties may provide a peculiar approach to manipulate the propagation of electromagnetic wave in subwave-length microstructures.

Generalized negative binomial distribution: a promising statistical distribution for Oncomelania hupensis in the lake- and marsh-land regions of China

A new generalization of the negative binomial distribution (GNBD) is introduced and fitted to counts of Oncomelania hupensis, the intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum, made, in areas of Chinese lakeland and marshland, early in the winter of 2005 and late in the spring of 2006. The GNBD was found to fit the snail data better than the standard negative binomial distribution (NBD) that has previously been widely used to model the distribution of O. hupensis. With two more parameters than the NBD, the GNBD can integrate many discrete distributions and is more flexible than the NBD in modelling O. hupensis. It also provides a better theoretical distribution for the quantitative study of O. hupensis, especially in building an accurate prediction model of snail density. The justification for adopting the GNBD is discussed. The GNBD allows researchers to broaden the field in the quantitative study not only of O. hupensis and schistosomiasis japonica but also of other environment-related helminthiases and family-clustered diseases that have, traditionally, been modelled using the NBD.

Quantitative trait loci for high-temperature adult-plant and slow-rusting resistance to Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici in wheat cultivars

Stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici, is one of the most damaging diseases of wheat (Triticum aestivum) globally. High-temperature adult-plant resistance (HTAPR) and slow-rusting have great potential for sustainable management of the disease. The wheat cultivars Luke and Aquileja have been previously reported to possess HTAPR and slow-rusting to stripe rust, respectively. Aquileja displayed less number of stripes per unit leaf area than Luke, while Luke showed lower infection type than Aquileja at adult-plant stages of growth under high-temperature conditions. The objectives of this study were to confirm the resistances and to map the resistance genes in Luke and Aquileja. Luke was crossed with Aquileja, and 326 of the F(2) plants were genotyped using 282 microsatellite primer pairs. These F(2) plants and their derived F(3) families were evaluated for resistance to stripe rust by inoculation in the fields and greenhouses of high- and low-temperatures. Infection type was recorded for both seedlings and adult plants, and stripe number was recorded for adult plants only. Two quantitative trait loci (QTL) were identified, on the short arm of chromosome 2B, to be significantly associated with infection type at adult-plant stages in the fields and in the high-temperature greenhouse. The locus distal to centromere, referred to as QYrlu.cau-2BS1, and the locus proximal to centromere, referred to as QYrlu.cau-2BS2, were separated by a genetic distance of about 23 cM. QYrlu.cau-2BS1 was flanked by the microsatellite markers Xwmc154 and Xgwm148, and QYrlu.cau-2BS2 was flanked by Xgwm148 and Xabrc167. QYrlu.cau-2BS1 and QYrlu.cau-2BS2 explained up to 36.6 and 41.5% of the phenotypic variation of infection type, respectively, and up to 78.1% collectively. No significant interaction between the two loci was detected. Another QTL, referred to as QYraq.cau-2BL, was detected on the long arm of chromosome 2B to be significantly associated with stripe number. QYraq.cau-2BL was flanked by the microsatellite markers Xwmc175 and Xwmc332, and it explained up to 61.5% of the phenotypic variation of stripe number. It is possible that these three QTL are previously unmapped loci for resistance to stripe rust.

Photo-patternable GeO2-contained organic-inorganic hybrid sol-gel films for photonic applications

Photo-patternable GeO(2)-contained organic-inorganic hybrid films, which can be used for the low cost and mass production of integrated photonic circuits, were synthesized by combining a low-temperature sol-gel process with a spin-coating technique. Optical waveguide properties and photochemical activities of the hybrid sol-gel films were characterized and monitored by a prism coupling technique and a Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Advantages for fabrication of ridge structures based on the hybrid films were demonstrated by one-step spin-coating process followed by direct ultraviolet light irradiation. The results indicate that the as-prepared photo-patternable hybrid materials have great applicability for the fabrication of photonic components, and the fabrication process has the advantages of cost-effect and very short processing time over inorganic materials patterning methods.

Removal of organic compounds during treating printing and dyeing wastewater of different process units

Wastewater in Shaoxing wastewater treatment plant (SWWTP) is composed of more than 90% dyeing and printing wastewater with high pH and sulfate. Through a combination process of anaerobic acidogenic [hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 15h], aerobic (HRT of 20h) and flocculation-precipitation, the total COD removal efficiency was up to 91%. But COD removal efficiency in anaerobic acidogenic unit was only 4%. As a comparison, the COD removal efficiency was up to 35% in the pilot-scale upflow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) reactor (HRT of 15h). GC-MS analysis showed that the response abundance of these wastewater samples decreased with their removal of COD. A main component of the raw influent was long-chain n-alkanes. The final effluent of SWWTP had only four types of alkanes. After anaerobic unit at SWWTP, the mass percentage of total alkanes to total organic compounds was slightly decreased while its categories increased. But in the UASB, alkanes categories could be removed by 75%. Caffeine as a chemical marker could be detected only in the effluent of the aerobic process. Quantitative analysis was given. These results demonstrated that GC-MS analysis could provide an insight to the measurement of organic compounds removal.

Modeling transport and fate of nitrogen from urea applied to a near-trench paddy field

A simple but comprehensive model is developed to quantify N losses from urea applied to a near-trench paddy field, considering all the N-transformations such as urea hydrolysis, volatilization, nitrification, denitrification, and all the important transportations like runoff, lateral seepage, vertical leaching and crop uptake. Seasonal average data of field observations for three crop seasons were used for model calibration and validation, which showed that ammonia volatilization accounted for 26.5-29.4% of the applied N and N uptake by crop occupied 38.2-44.8%, while N losses via surface runoff, vertical leaching and lateral seepage varied from 5.6-7.7%, 4.0-4.9% to 5.0-5.3% of the applied N, respectively. These observed results were well predicted by our model, indicating that the model performed effectively at quantifying N losses via individual processes in a wide range of urea application rates and benefit for developing water and fertilizer management strategies for near-trench paddy fields.

Molecular analysis of dispersal in giant pandas

Although dispersal in the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is a demographic mechanism which can potentially counteract the negative effect of habitat fragmentation, little is known about dispersal in this species because of difficulties in observing individuals. Using data from faecal microsatellite genotyping, we compared the spatial distribution of giant pandas in two populations and the proximity of relatives in one key population to infer their dispersal pattern. We conclude that giant pandas exhibit female-biased dispersal because: (i) vAIc (variance of assignment index) for females was significantly larger than for males, suggesting that females comprise both 'local' and 'foreign' genotypes; (ii) the average spatial distance of related female dyads was significantly larger than that of males; (iii) larger r (relatedness), F(ST) (genetic variance among populations) and mAIc (mean of assignment index) values were found in males using the software FSTAT, although the differences were not significant; (iv) males set up territories neighbouring to their birth place; (v) significant population structure using microsatellites with a concomitant lack of mitochondrial structure was found in a previous study, possibly indicating more extensive female dispersal; and (vi) female-biased dispersal was strongly supported by evidence from concomitant ecological studies. Considering previous ecological data and life-history characteristics of the giant panda, female-biased dispersal is most likely to be due to competition for birth dens among females, inbreeding avoidance and enhancing inclusive fitness among related males.

Enhancement of oxygen transfer efficiency in diffused aeration systems using liquid-film-forming apparatus

Surface transfer and bubble transfer both contribute significantly to oxygen transfer in a diffused aeration system. In the present study, liquid-film-forming apparatus is successfully developed on a laboratory scale to improve considerably the surface transfer via the unique liquid film transfer technique. The experimental results show that the volumetric mass transfer coefficient for liquid-film-forming apparatus alone is found to be as much as 5.3 times higher than that for water surface and that the total volumetric mass transfer coefficient for liquid film aeration system increases by 37 % in comparison with conventional aeration system. Additionally, by tuning finely the structural parameters of the liquid-film-forming apparatus, it can also lead to high dissolved oxygen water with the dissolved oxygen percent saturation greater than 90 %. More importantly, this result is accomplished by simply offering a single-pass aeration at the depth as shallow as 26 cm. As a result, the objective of economical energy consumption in diffused aeration systems can be realized by lowering the aeration depth without sacrificing the aeration efficiency.

Improved photoluminescence of silicon nanocrystals in silicon nitride prepared by ammonia sputtering

In the present work we investigated the photoluminescence property of silicon nanocrystals in silicon nitride prepared by ammonia sputtering. Silicon nanocrystals were demonstrated to form even after thermal annealing at 700 °C. Compared with the control sample using N(2) as the reactive gas, the luminescence intensity of silicon nanocrystals in silicon nitride prepared by NH(3) sputtering was greatly increased. The improvement in photoluminescence was attributed to the introduction of hydrogen-related bonds, which could well passivate the nonradiative defects existing at the interface between silicon nanocrystals and the silicon nitride matrix.

The pharmacokinetics of orally administered fudosteine in healthy Chinese volunteers

The pharmacokinetics of fudosteine in healthy Chinese volunteers was investigated for the first time after single- and multiple-dose administration. Five male and five female volunteers were enrolled in this study. Each subject received 400 mg fudosteine capsules (the therapeutic dose) on day 1 after overnight fasting for the single-dose study and three times daily oral administration (400 mg) for 5 consecutive days until the sixth morning for the multiple-dose study. Serial blood samples were collected at specified time intervals up to 16 hours following the first and last doses of fudosteine. Plasma harvested from the blood was separated and analyzed for fudosteine levels by a validated high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI/MS) method employing percolumn derivatization with 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate (FMOC-Cl). Noncompartmental analysis was used for the calculation of the total area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) from time zero to time infinity and the terminal half-life (t1/2) of fudosteine. The pharmacokinetic parameters for single- and multiple-dose administration were estimated as follows: Cmax amounted to 10.13+/-4.39 microg/mL and 11.75+/-6.51 microg/mL, tmax to 0.69+/-0.36 h and 0.53+/-0.12 h and t1/2 to 2.33+/-0.63 h and 2.40+/-0.37 h, respectively. No significant differences were found between single- and multiple-dose oral administration, although gender differences were observed.

Extent and pattern of DNA methylation alteration in rice lines derived from introgressive hybridization of rice and Zizania latifolia Griseb

We have reported previously that introgression by Zizania latifolia resulted in extensive DNA methylation changes in the recipient rice genome, as detected by a set of pre-selected DNA segments. In this study, using the methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism (MSAP) method, we globally assessed the extent and pattern of cytosine methylation alterations in three typical introgression lines relative to their rice parent at approximately 2,700 unbiased genomic loci each representing a recognition site cleaved by one or both of the isoschizomers, HpaII/MspI. Based on differential digestion by the isoschizomers, it is estimated that 15.9% of CCGG sites are either fully methylated at the internal Cs and/or hemi-methylated at the external Cs in the rice parental cultivar Matsumae. In comparison, a statistically significant increase in the overall level of both methylation types was detected in all three studied introgression lines (19.2, 18.6, 19.6%, respectively). Based on comparisons of MSAP profiles between the isoschizomers within the rice parent and between parent and the introgression lines, four major groups of MSAP banding patterns are recognized, which can be further divided into various subgroups as a result of inheritance of, or variation in, parental methylation patterns. The altered methylation patterns include hyper- and hypomethylation changes, as well as inter-conversion of hemi- to full-methylation, or vice versa, at the relevant CCGG site(s). Most alterations revealed by MSAP in low-copy loci can be validated by DNA gel blot analysis. The changed methylation patterns are uniform among randomly selected individuals for a given introgression line within or among selfed generations. Sequencing on 31 isolated fragments that showed different changing patterns in the introgression line(s) allowed their mapping onto variable regions on one or more of the 12 rice chromosomes. These segments include protein-coding genes, transposon/retrotransposons and sequences with no homology. Possible causes for the introgression-induced methylation changes and their implications for genome evolution and crop breeding are discussed.

Lost P1 allele in sh2 sweet corn: quantitative effects of p1 and a1 genes on concentrations of maysin, apimaysin, methoxymaysin, and chlorogenic acid in maize silk

In the United States, insecticide is used extensively in the production of sweet corn due to consumer demand for zero damage to ears and to a sweet corn genetic base with little or no resistance to ear-feeding insects. Growers in the southern United States depend on scheduled pesticide applications to control ear-feeding insects. In a study of quantitative genetic control over silk maysin, AM-maysin (apimaysin and methoxymaysin), and chlorogenic acid contents in an F2 population derived from GE37 (dent corn, P1A1) and 565 (sh2 sweet corn, p1a1), we demonstrate that the P1 allele from field corn, which was selected against in the development of sweet corn, has a strong epistatic interaction with the a1 allele in sh2 sweet corn. We detected that the p1 gene has significant effects (P < 0.0001) not only on silk maysin concentrations but also on AM-maysin, and chlorogenic acid concentrations. The a1 gene also has significant (P < 0.0005) effects on these silk antibiotic chemicals. Successful selection from the fourth and fifth selfed backcrosses for high-maysin individuals of sweet corn homozygous for the recessive a1 allele (tightly linked to sh2) and the dominant P1 allele has been demonstrated. These selected lines have much higher (2 to 3 times) concentrations of silk maysin and other chemicals (AM-maysin and chlorogenic acid) than the donor parent GE37 and could enhance sweet corn resistance to corn earworm and reduce the number of applications of insecticide required to produce sweet corn.

Effects of sand burial on survival, growth, gas exchange and biomass allocation of Ulmus pumila seedlings in the Hunshandak Sandland, China

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

In the last decade, the number of young plants of Ulmus pumila in the Hunshandak Sandland has decreased sharply because of severe sand burial, and their ecological protective function has been weakened. In order to develop an understanding of the tolerance of U. pumila to sand burial and to suggest reasonable measures to protect the sparse-elm-grassland ecosystem, the effects of burial on the survival, growth, photosynthesis and biomass allocation in U. pumila were studied.

METHODS

Seedlings were buried at five different depths in pot experiments: no burial (control), partial burial (33 % and 67 % stem height), and complete burial (100 % and 133 % stem height). Growth analyses and measurements of photosynthesis were carried after the plants had been uncovered.

KEY RESULTS

All the plants survived partial burial, but about 30 % and 80 % of the seedlings died as a result of the 100 % and 133 % sand burial treatments, respectively. The numbers of newly produced leaves and branches, and the height of the stems of the seedlings in the 33 % and 67 % burial treatments during the period of the experiment were significantly greater than those in the control. Furthermore, net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and water use efficiency were also elevated by the partial burial, but not affected by burial time. This might be attributed to the increased root length, which improved water acquisition. The biomass and biomass allocation of the seedlings were significantly changed by the burial treatments and burial times. The biomass was enhanced by partial burial but was reduced by complete burial at each burial time. However, the biomass allocation was not significantly changed by the 33 % and 67 % sand burial treatments 2 or 4 weeks following the burial.

CONCLUSIONS

Ulmus pumila was shown to be tolerant to partial sand burial, but must be protected from complete burial.

An enzymatic route to produce pyruvate from lactate

A bacterial strain of Acinetobacter sp., which was capable of enzymatic production of pyruvate from lactate, was cultured in a 5-l reactor with a basal salt medium. After 14 h of fed-batch fermentation, 9.56 g l(-1) cell concentration in the broth was obtained with 20 g l(-1) (178 mM) sodium lactate and 4 g l(-1) NH(4)Cl in the medium; and the biotransformation ability was 2.51 units ml(-1). The cells were harvested from one reactor and then used for pyruvate production from lactate in the same reactor. l-lactate at a concentration about 527 mM was almost stoichiometrically converted to pyruvate in 28 h. After a total 42 h of cell culture and biotransformation, the transformative yield was about 0.72 g g(-1) pyruvate from lactate and the rate of pyruvate production was calculated as 1.33 g l(-1) h(-1) during the process. The results suggested this simple enzymatic production of pyruvate from lactate should be a promising process and may bring a yield higher than that by microbial fermentation. By this process, the recovery of pyruvate from such a simple reaction liquid is relatively easy and inexpensive to perform.