Astaxanthin and papilioerythrinone in the skin of birds: a chromatic convergence of two metabolic routes with different precursors?

Carotenoids are organic pigments involved in several important physiological functions and may serve as indicators of individual quality in animals. These pigments are only obtained by animals from the diet, but they can be later transformed into other carotenoids by specific enzymatic reactions. The diet of farm-reared and probably wild red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa) is mainly based on cereals that contain high levels of lutein and zeaxanthin. These two carotenoids are also predominant in internal tissues and blood of red-legged partridges. However, in their integuments, astaxanthin and papilioerythrinone (the last one identified in this work) are mainly present in their free form and esterified with fatty acids. According to available literature about carotenoid metabolism in animals, we propose that astaxanthin (λ _max?=?478 nm) and papilioerythrinone (λ _max?=?452–478 nm) are the result of a chromatic convergence of the transformation of dietary zeaxanthin and lutein, respectively. Moreover, the results obtained in this work provide the first identification by liquid chromatography coupled to accurate mass quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer system of papilioerythrinone (m/z 581.3989 [M?+?H]⁺) in the skin (i.e., not feathers) of a vertebrate. Astaxanthin and papilioerythrinone are very close in terms of chemical structure and coloration, and the combination of these two keto-carotenoids is responsible for the red color of the ornaments in red-legged partridges.     

Biogenetic amino acid antagonists

The mode of action of amino acid antagonists of biological origin ist surveyed und the enzymatic reactions with which these antibiotics interfere are described, thus also elucidating the various roles of amino acids in cell physiology. Several organisms, including the antibiotic producer, possess molecular devices for conferring resistance to some of these substances. These antibiotics may be of further value as research tools in molecular biology.     

镉铅对小麦醇脱氢酶(ADH)基因表达影响的初步研究

经过镉，铅４５ｈ污染处理，运用Ｎｏｒｔｈｅｉｎ斑点杂分析和酶活性测定的方法探测萌发期小麦ＡＤＨ酶基因的表达情况。实验结果表明，ＡＤＨ基因表达在ＲＮＡ和酶活性两个层次均有变化，并且呈现相似的变化趋势，反映得金属的影响是来源于基因转录水平。     

Kinetics of enzymatic unhairing by protease in leather industry

In leather industry, unhairing is a heavy pollution operation. The conventional lime-sulfide process produces a large amount of sulfide which is toxic to health and difficult to dispose. Moreover, conventional lime-sulfide process leads to the destruction of the hair causing increased COD, BOD and TDS loads in the effluent. As an alternative method, enzymatic unhairing is a promising clean technology. The main utilized enzyme preparations are proteases.There are many reports about enzymatic unhairing, most of which are qualitative. The kinetics of enzymatic unhairing by protease was discussed in this article. It will provide useful information to enzymatic unhairing. In our research, by analysis of the concentrations of released total protein in enzyme bath during protease unhairing, the good linearity between released total protein and square root of time (min^1/2) was obtained at the initial stage. The good linearity suggests that enzymatic unhairing by protease is a diffusion-controlled process at the initial stage. The analysis of kinetics of released saccharides also confirms the same conclusion. On the other hand, the same characteristics between the kinetics of released saccharides and that of released total protein further confirms that it is the hydrolysis of core protein by protease that leads to the degradation of proteoglycans and the release of protein and saccharides. However, in our tests, the kinetics of released collagen indicates that the injury to skin took place in 3-6 h. Therefore, it’s necessary to control the time of protease unhairing within an appropriate limit.     

Migratory and resident blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus differ in their reaction to a novel object

Individuals differ consistently in their behavioural reactions towards novel objects and new situations. Reaction to novelty is one part of a suit of individually consistent behaviours called coping strategies or personalities and is often summarised as bold or shy behaviour. Coping strategies could be particularly important for migrating birds exposed to novel environments on their journeys. We compared the average approach latencies to a novel object among migrants and residents in partially migratory blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus. In this test, we found migrating blue tits to have shorter approach latencies than had resident ones. Behavioural reactions to novelty can affect the readiness to migrate and short approach latency may have an adaptive value during migration. Individual behaviour towards novelty might be incorporated among the factors associated with migratory or resident behaviour in a partially migratory population.     

Laboratory simulation of SO2 heterogeneous reactions on hematite surface under di erent SO2 concentrations

The variations of sulfate formation and optical coe cients during SO2 heterogeneous reactions on hematite surface under di erent SO2 concentrations were examined using in situ di use reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) and ion chromatograph (IC). Laboratory experiments revealed that within ambient SO2 of 0.51–18.6 ppmv, sulfate product, producing velocity, absorption and backward scattering coe cients showed an increasing trend with SO2 concentration. Under given SO2 concentration, the velocity of sulfate producing performed an evolution of initial increasing, midterm decreasing and final stabilizing. The reactive uptake and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) uptake coe cients of heterogeneous reactions rose with SO2 and exhibited high reactivities. Considering global warming, this result is important for the knowledge of heterogeneous reactions of SO2 on mineral particle surface in the atmosphere and the assessment of their impacts on radiative forcing.     

Organic peroxy radicals: Kinetics,spectroscopy and tropospheric chemistry

The present state of knowledge of organic, or carbon-based, peroxy radicals (RO₂) is reviewed. Data on the chemical and physical properties of peroxy radicals in the gas-phase is considered, as well as the role of peroxy radicals in tropospheric chemistry and measurements of their concentrations in the atmosphere. Where appropriate, peroxy radicals are grouped together by type (alkyl, acyl, oxygen-substituted, halogen-substituted and aromatic radicals) to facilitate comparison. Data on the hydroperoxy radical (HO₂) is included where it is directly relevant to measurements on organic peroxy radicals, eg. absorption cross-sections used in measurements of RO₂ + HO₂ rate constants. The literature data is critically reviewed and recommendations for absorption cross-sections, rate constants and branching ratios are made where considered appropriate.The laboratory experimental techniques which have been used for the generation and detection of peroxy radicals and the products of their reactions are discussed. The structure, spectroscopy and thermochemistry of the radicals are examined. Although the majority of spectroscopic data concerns the u.v. spectra much used for kinetic studies, near-infrared, infrared and electron spin resonance spectra are also considered. In many cases, peroxy radical u.v. spectra are well-fitted by a Gaussian distribution function, enabling the cross-sections to be easily calculated at any wavelength.For the purpose of this review, the chemical reactions of peroxy radicals are divided into reactions with organic peroxy radicals with HO₂, with NO and NO₂, and finally with other species. Peroxy radical abstraction and addition reactions with closed-shell species are sufficiently slow to be of negligible importance at temperatures pertinent to the atmosphere and are consequently not covered. Data on both the kinetics and mechanisms of peroxy radical reactions are considered.The role of peroxy radicals as intermediates in the atmospheric degradation of volatile organic compounds and in the production of ozone in the troposphere under both low and high [NO_x] conditions is discussed. The involvement of peroxy radicals in night-time oxidation chemistry and the oxidation of halocarbons is also indicated. The techniques used for the difficult measurement of peroxy radical concentrations in the atmosphere are described, together with the results to date.Finally, some tentative suggestions as to further avenues of research are made, based on the data reviewed here and with particular reference to the solution of outstanding problems in atmospheric chemistry. Although a great deal of progress has been made in recent years, it is clear that additional work is needed in most areas covered by this review. New, sensitive and selective laboratory techniques are required for studies of peroxy radical kinetics and high level ab initio calculations would help design laser-based detection techniques. Further product studies of photooxidation systems are needed, particularly as a function of temperature. Recent work has shown that the rate constants for RO₂ + HO₂ reactions used in modelling studies may be too low; if so, these reactions will be correspondingly more important than previously believed in tropospheric oxidation. Recent kinetic studies of the potentially important reactions of methylperoxy radicals with ClO and NO₃ need to be confirmed and mechanistic work is necessary. Although substantial progress has been made towards the monitoring of peroxy radical concentrations in the atmosphere, more work is needed, both on measurements and the development of new techniques.     

碘普罗胺降解菌Pseudomonas sp. I-24共代谢降解性能研究

菌株Pseudomonas sp.I-24(I-24)难以利用碘普罗胺(IOP)作为唯一的碳源和能源进行生长和代谢,因此本研究选用淀粉、麦芽糖、葡萄糖和甘油作为I-24共代谢IOP的外加碳源,考察了在摇瓶实验中,不同外加碳源对I-24生长及降解IOP的影响.结果表明,I-24共代谢IOP符合一级反应动力学特征,淀粉对共代谢过程的促进作用最为显著,IOP的五日降解率可达到92.7%,I-24的IOP降解酶活力在培养第3 d达到最高0.182 mU,淀粉投加的最佳浓度为1 g·L-1,然而葡萄糖和麦芽糖分别对I-24的生长和电子传递系统活性(ETSA)有着最佳促进作用,表明降解菌生长过快将导致竞争性抑制,降低IOP降解率,同时ETSA与共代谢作用无直接关联.此外,从空白样表现出的酶活力得出IOP降解酶即使在低基质条件下同样可被诱导产生.     

膜生物反应器在汽爆稻草秸秆酶解中应用研究

以汽爆稻草秸秆为原料,通过将几个酶解罐串联来提高最终还原糖浓度.考察了酶浓度,酶解单元组成以及稀释率对汽爆稻草秸秆酶解的影响.结果表明,最佳条件为:20FPU/g,酶解单元由4个酶解罐组成,稀释率为0.075/h.在此条件下,酶解时间为24h时,与传统批次酶解相比,汽爆稻草秸秆总转化率从18%～21%提高到39.5%.与只有1个酶解罐的膜反应器相比,每g底物还原糖产量从0.25g提高到0.4g,最终所得还原糖的平均浓度从4.56g/L提高到27.23g/L.     

Field vole (Microtus agrestis) seasonal spacing behavior: the effect of predation risk by mustelids

There are numerous studies showing that predation risk may change different aspects of the behavior of prey, such as habitat use, activity pattern, and foraging. Prey should exhibit the strongest antipredatory response against their most deadly predator. Small mustelids are considered the most important mammalian predators of voles. Nevertheless, there is no general agreement as to whether strong antipredatory reactions exist in natural free-living populations of voles. Here, we studied the field vole Microtus agrestis spatial reaction to high predation risk from small mustelids in the breeding (August) and nonbreeding (October) seasons under natural conditions. Voles were exposed to a caged weasel (Mustela nivalis) and a stoat (Mustela erminea), as well as to the odors of these predators. The reactions of 30 field voles were monitored with radiotelemetry. The field voles were found to display antipredator reactions that varied with season. In the breeding period, in response to predation risk, voles reduced locomotory activity and daily-range size, whereas in the nonbreeding period they did not. Changes in home range position were similar for control and treatment voles, in both the breeding and nonbreeding periods. The results indicate that mustelid predators modify the spatial behavior of small rodents in natural conditions depending on season. This might be a reflection of differences in state-dependent responses to predation from sexually active or inactive individuals. This suggests that the basic antipredatory reaction of voles under high predation risk from small mustelids limits their locomotory activity.     

Enzymatic natural dyeing of cotton and silk fabrics without metal mordants

Two step ultrasonic dyeing of cotton and silk fabrics with natural dyes, Terminalia arjuna, Punica granatum, and Rheum emodi have been developed in which an enzyme is complexed with tannic acid first as a pretreatment. This was found to be comparable with one step simultaneous dyeing. The effectiveness of three enzymes—protease-amylase, diasterase and lipase was determined. The enzymatic treatment gave cotton and silk fabrics rapid dye adsorption kinetics and total higher adsorption than untreated samples for all the three dyes. The CIELab values also showed improvement by enzymatic treatment. The tannic acid-enzyme-dye combination method offers an environmentally benign alternative, ‘soft chemistry’ to the metal mordanted natural dyeing.     

仲丁醇对苯乙烯臭氧化反应生成二次有机气溶胶的影响:实验和模型研究

通过烟雾箱实验,研究了仲丁醇对苯乙烯臭氧化反应生成二次有机气溶胶(SOA)的影响.结果发现,在烟雾箱实验中,过量仲丁醇的加入导致生成SOA的产率明显下降.同时,结合MCM气相机理和气-粒分配理论,将Criegee中间体与醛类的双分子反应添加到箱式模型中模拟烟雾箱中SOA的生成过程.模拟结果表明,在没有仲丁醇存在的情况下,次级臭氧化物在SOA组分中占1/2左右的比例.仲丁醇的加入消耗了大量的·OH,同时使得[HO_2]/[RO_2]比值升高,影响自由基相关的反应机制,使得SOA产率下降.另外,研究发现,Criegee中间体与醛类反应的速率常数也是影响SOA生成模拟的一个重要参数,需要进一步开展相关的动力学实验和理论研究.     

Women's experiences with second trimester prenatal diagnosis

By means of questionnaires, 100 women were asked for their experiences concerning prenatal diagnosis. At four standardized stages of the pregnancy a questionnaire was filled in asking for: expectation, knowledge, attitude towards termination of the pregnancy in case of abnormal findings, reactions to the counselling and the obstetric treatment, interpretation of own risk, experiences since the normal test results were known and ideas to improve the treatment. With regard to the effect of pre-amniocentesis counselling it is concluded that the counselling had little impact on decision making; the counselling caused an increase of factual knowledge: somewhat more than half of the women who did not give a correct answer before counselling, indicated the right answer some time afterwards. Presumed differences in reaction patterns for a number of characteristics were not affirmed by the study; the reactions during the procedure of prenatal diagnosis seem to be highly individual and difficult to predict. In addition to the reactions of the 100 women described in this study, the responses to the first questionnaire of another 16 patients, declining amniocentesis after counselling, are presented.     

Effect of combined pollution by heavy metals on soil enzymatic activities in areas polluted by tailings from Pb-Zn-Ag mine

Some enzymatic activities were determined in the areas polluted by tailings from Tiantai Pb-Zn-Ag Mine in Zhejiang Province of China. The results indicated the soil enzymatic activities decreased significantly with increase of concentrations of heavy metals or the distance away from mining tailing center, especially dehydrogenase and urease activities. Multivariate regression analysis between heavy metal contents and soil enzymatic activities indicated that single dehydrogenase activity was very significantly correlated to combined effect of soil heavy metals in mine area. Moreover, single urease, protease and acid phosphatase activities were significantly related to the combined effect of heavy metals. The results suggest it is feasible to use soil enzymatic activities to indicate the pollution situation by combined heavy metals in the soil of mine area.     

模型化研究pH对垃圾焚烧飞灰金属浸出的影响机制

浸出液pH是影响城市生活垃圾焚烧飞灰金属浸出的主要因素.通过比较pH变化浸出测试和Visual MINTEQ模拟结果,研究了浸出液pH对飞灰金属浸出特性的影响机制.结果发现,酸性条件下(Cd、Zn、Ni:pH＜8;Pb、Cu、Cr:pH＜6;Al:pH＜4),金属会随pH降低而大量溶出;两性金属Pb和Zn,在强碱性条件时浸出浓度亦会增加,pH=12.5时可分别达42和2.4 mg·L-1.飞灰中金属的pH相关浸出行为可通过Visual MINTEQ模型很好地模拟.模拟计算结果表明,浸出液pH的变化会改变金属在浸出体系中的化学形态,从而影响金属的浸出浓度;不同pH下Pb、Zn、Cu、Ca和Al的化学形态和浸出行为主要由溶解/沉淀平衡决定,吸附作用对其影响不大;在酸性至中性pH条件下,飞灰中HFO会吸附Cd、Cr和Ni而降低其溶解度,但在碱性条件下这些重金属的浸出又转而由溶解/沉淀平衡控制.     

挥发性有机物(VOCs)的不同化学去除途径:城市与区域站点的对比

VOCs在大气中主要是与OH自由基、NO₃自由基和O₃等反应氧化去除,部分OVOCs的自身光解也是重要的化学去除途径.本研究基于2018年和2019年秋季在珠三角地区的城市和区域站点的外场观测实验,使用VOCs、常规痕量气体及气象参数的观测数据,对烷烃、烯烃、芳香烃和OVOCs等VOCs组分不同化学去除途径的去除速率进行分析.结果表明,烷烃和芳香烃主要通过与OH自由基反应去除,最高占比超过99%.与NO₃自由基和O₃的反应可贡献烯烃去除速率的80%以上,特别是一些天然源的烯烃(如单萜烯)与NO₃自由基的氧化去除是贡献最大的氧化途径.光解是甲醛最重要的去除途径,在两个站点均达到了50%以上,酮类的光解贡献会高于其他OVOCs类物质.OH自由基的氧化去除途径在城市和区域站点的人为源及天然源VOCs去除中占主导地位.区域站点,烯烃尤其是天然源的烯烃物种,与NO₃自由基和O₃反应的贡献要高于城市站点.本研究对促进不同VOCs物种在大气中的去除...     

相对速率法测量氯原子与几种酮类物质的反应速率常数

在(298±2) K和一个大气压条件下,采用相对速率法研究了一系列酮类物质与氯原子的反应动力学.使用丙醛和乙苯作为参比物,光解三氯乙酰氯作为氯原子产生源,测得2-己酮与氯原子的反应速率常数为(1.80±0.42)×10~(-10) cm~3·molecule~(-1)·s~(-1),与已有文献报道值非常符合,验证了实验方法和所选参比物的可靠性.首次测得了(298±2) K和一个大气压条件下2-庚酮和2-辛酮与氯原子反应的速率常数,分别为(2.54±0.62)×10~(-10)和(2.12±0.63)×10~(-10) cm~3·molecule~(-1)·s~(-1).与其母体烷烃的反应速率对比发现,酮类物质中羰基的存在使得其反应速率都比其母体烷烃变慢.利用所测的速率常数和氯原子的浓度信息估算这些酮类物质在大气中的平均寿命,结果显示,在海洋边界层或沿海地区等氯原子浓度较高的地区,这些物质与氯原子反应的大气化学寿命都在小时量级,完全可以与OH自由基的反应相竞争,是这些物质在大气中的重要降解途径.另外,在内陆污染地区或工业聚集区,氯原子的反应及其对二次污染物生成的贡献同样不能忽视.     

厌氧-缺氧-好氧系统中β-葡萄糖苷酶的活性研究

文章通过对厌氧-缺氧-好氧系统中β-葡萄糖苷酶活性的研究,了解其与生化参数的相互关系。研究表明,用β-葡萄糖苷酶活性可代替MLSS、MLVSS或VSS/SS来表征微生物的活性;系统中β-葡萄糖苷酶活性与COD关系密切,且随污泥负荷的增加而增大;β-葡萄糖苷酶活性与总有机碳去除的TOC的关系与COD相似。     

Aktivierung,Aktivität und Inhibierung des Rindertrypsins

Trypsin is a prototype of a large group of enzymes belonging to serine proteinases. The X-ray crystal-structure analyses of its proenzyme trypsinogen, of the active trypsin and of their complexes formed with the pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (PTI) have considerably enhanced our understanding of the mechanisms of activitation, action and inhibition. The trypsinogen is an incompletely folded molecule. Its substrate-binding site becomes only completely fixed upon the enzymatic cleavage of an N-terminal peptide. The contact regions of trypsin and PTI are almost complementary. The complex formed is a (stable) intermediate in the normal tryptic substrate-cleavage reaction.     

Delignification of disposable wooden chopsticks waste for fermentative hydrogen production by an enriched culture from a hot spring

Hydrogen(H2) production from lignocellulosic materials may be enhanced by removing lignin and increasing the porosity of the material prior to enzymatic hydrolysis. Alkaline pretreatment conditions,used to delignify disposable wooden chopsticks(DWC) waste, were investigated. The effects of NaOH concentration, temperature and retention time were examined and it was found that retention time had no effect on lignin removal or carbohydrate released in enzymatic hydrolysate. The highest percentage of lignin removal(41%) was obtained with 2% NaOH at 100℃, correlated with the highest carbohydrate released(67 mg/gpretreated DWC) in the hydrolysate. An enriched culture from a hot spring was used as inoculum for fermentative H2 production, and its optimum initial pH and temperature were determined to be 7.0 and 50℃, respectively. Furthermore, enzymatic hydrolysate from pretreated DWC was successfully demonstrated as a substrate for fermentative H2 production by the enriched culture. The maximum H2 yield and production rate were achieved at 195 mL H2/g total sugarsconsumedand 116 mL H2/(L·day), respectively.