SO2 inhalation causes synaptic injury in rat hippocampus via its derivatives in vivo

SO₂ remains a common air pollutant, almost half of the world’s population uses coal and biomass fuels for domestic energy. Limited evidence suggests that exposure to SO₂ may be associated with neurotoxicity and increased risk of hospitalization and mortality of many brain disorders. However, our understanding of the mechanisms by which SO₂ causes harmful insults on neurons remains elusive. To explore the molecular mechanism of SO₂-induced neurotoxic effects in hippocampal neurons, we evaluated the synaptic plasticity in rat hippocampus after exposure to SO₂ at various concentrations (3.5 and 7 mg m⁻³, 6 h d⁻¹, for 90 d) in vivo, and in primary cultured hippocampal neurons (DIV7 and DIV14) after the treatment of SO₂ derivatives in vitro. The results showed that SYP, PSD-95, NR-2B, p-ERK1/2 and p-CREB were consistently inhibited by SO₂/SO₂ derivatives in more mature hippocampal neurons in vivo and in vitro, while the effects were opposite in young hippocampal neurons. Our results indicated that in young neurons, SO₂ exposure produced neuronal insult is similar to ischemic injury; while in more mature neurons, SO₂ exposure induced synaptic dysfunctions might participate in cognitive impairment. The results implied that SO₂ inhalation could cause different neuronal injury during brain development, and suggested that the molecular mechanisms might be involved in the changes of synaptic plasticity.     

Age-dating Diesel Fuel Spills: Using the European Empirical Time-based Model in the U.S.A.

In 1993, a paper was published by Christensen and Larsen that offered a method for determining the age of diesel oil spills in soil (Christensen and Larsen, 1993 Ground Water Mount. R . Fall , 142-149). It presented an empirical time-based model of the degradation of diesel fuel in soils using chemical data gathered at petroleum release sites in Denmark and the Netherlands. Now, evaluation of the validity of the application of this work to subsurface petroleum releases in other countries remains. In the U.S.A., investigations assessing date(s) of release of diesel fuel in soils, e.g. age dating of subsurface petroleum contamination, have considerable interest. Litigation-driven scientific investigations with accompanying expert testimony in a court of law are underway. The number of instances where application of the Christensen and Larsen empirical time-based model to petroleum-contaminated properties is growing in the U.S.A. This paper presents two case studies which evaluate the applicability of the Christensen and Larsen empirical time-based model to petroleum-contaminated properties in general. It illustrates the approach using gas chromatographic data from two recently-completed projects evaluating the applicability of the Christensen and Larsen model to a No. 2 fuel oil/diesel fuel surface spill in the U.S.A. Results showed that the application of the model to petroleum-contaminated soils was scientifically valid, provided its applicability was evaluated using hypothesis testing for specific changes in the characteristics of the petroleum hydrocarbon distribution in a number of soil samples collected over time at one site. The paper offers observations on the application of the Christensen and Larsen model to petroleum found in the light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) phase and groundwater.     

贵州省旱田土壤N2O释放及其环境影响因素

以贵州省的玉米－油菜轮作田、大豆－冬小麦轮作和休耕地为研究对象,采用密闭箱－气相色谱法,对整个轮作期的土壤Ｎ₂Ｏ释放进行观测,初步研究我国亚热带旱田的Ｎ₂Ｏ释放特征．实验研究结果表明,３试验田Ｎ₂Ｏ释放通量具有相同的规律性日变化形式,秋收作物达通量极大值的时间比越冬作物滞后２ｈ～３ｈ,气温是控制Ｎ₂Ｏ通量日变化的主要环境因子：３试验田Ｎ₂Ｏ释放通量（以Ｎ₂Ｏ中的Ｎ计）分别在９．８１～４３３．１１,４．００～１８０．４１和９．７４～２８２．００μｇ·ｍ^-2·ｈ^-1,高于我国水田和北方旱田的Ｎ₂Ｏ释放通量;进一步分析表明,３试验田Ｎ₂Ｏ释放通量具有相同的季节变化模式,Ｎ₂Ｏ 释放峰受降雨事件的直接影响,Ｎ₂Ｏ通量与降雨量和土壤湿度间有显著的正相关性,而与温度的关系不明显     

Photolysis of the herbicide bispyribac sodium in aqueous medium under the influence of UV and sunlight in presence or absence of sensitizers

The photolysis of a rice herbicide Bispyribac sodium (Sodium 2, 6-bis [(4, 6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl) oxy] benzoate) has been studied in different aqueous medium (distilled water, pond water and Irrigation water) under the influence of UV (λ max ≥ 250 nm) and sunlight in presence or absence of sensitizers (TiO₂ and KNO₃). The study was conducted under laboratory simulated condition which made it possible to evaluate the contribution of different factors viz. source of irradiation, solvent and sensitizers towards the photolysis of bispyribac sodium. The photodegradation proceeds via first order reaction Kinetics in all the cases. Five photo metabolites (M₁-M₅) were isolated in pure form by column chromatographic method from the irradiation system under UV influenced and TiO₂ as sensitizer. From the different spectral data (IR, NMR, UV-VIS, Mass) the structure of these five metabolites were assigned as M₁ (Phenol), M₂ [2, 6-Dihydroxy benzoic acid], M₃ [2, 6-bis [(4, 6 dimethoxypyrimidin-2yl) oxy] benzoic acid], M₄ [2-(3-Hydroxy-phenoxy)-pyrimidine-4, 6-diol] and M₅ as [2,4-Dihydroxy-3, 5-dimethoxy-6-(4-methoxy pyrimidine-2-yloxy)-benzoic acid]. Moreover, another six photometabolites (M₆-M₁₁) were identified from the different irradiation system on the basis of Micromass analysis. On the basis of MS/MS data analysis, the structure of these six photometabolites were assigned as M₆ [2-(4, 6-Dimethoxy-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-6-hydroxy-benzoic acid], M₇ [2-Hydroxy-6-(4-hydroxy-6-methoxy-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-benzoic acid], M₈ [4, 6-Dimethoxy-pyrimidin-2-ol], M₉ [6-Methoxy-pyrimidine-2, 4-diol], M₁₀ [2-Hydroxy-6-(pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-benzoic acid] and M₁₁ [2, 4, 6-Trimethoxy-pyrimidine]. The plausible Photodegradation pathways of bispyribac sodium in the present investigation were portrayed which proceeds via hydrolysis, hydrolytic cleavage, O-dealkylation, decarboxylation, dehydroxylation, O-alkylation and hydroxylation.     

Photocatalytic mechanisms of indoleamine destruction by the quinalphos metabolite 2-hydroxyquinoxaline: a study on melatonin and its precursors serotonin and N-acetylserotonin

The redox-active quinalphos main metabolite, 2-hydroxyquinoxaline, is particularly effective under excitation by light. We have studied the photocatalytic destruction of melatonin and its precursors, because the cytoprotective indoleamine has been detected in high quantities in mammalian skin. In photooxidation reactions, in which melatonin, N-acetylserotonin and serotonin are destroyed by 2-hydroxyquinoxaline, the photocatalyst is virtually not consumed. Rates of melatonin and serotonin destruction are not changed by the singlet oxygen quencher 1,4-diazabicyclo-(2,2,2)-octane, indicating that this oxygen species is not involved in the primary reactions, so that the persistence of 2-hydroxyquinoxaline has to be explained by redox cycling. This should imply formation of an organic radical, presumably the quinoxaline-2-oxyl radical, from which 2-hydroxyquinoxaline is regenerated by electron abstraction from indolic radical scavengers. Electron donation by 2-hydroxyquinoxaline is demonstrated by reduction of the 2,2′-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzthiazolinyl-6-sulfonic acid) cation radical under ultrasound excitation. The compound 2-hydroxyquinoxaline interacts with the specific superoxide anion scavenger Tiron. Formation of oligomeric products from melatonin and serotonin is strongly inhibited by sodium dithionite. Products from photocatalytic indolamine conversion are predominantly dimers and oligomers. No kynuramines were detected in the case of serotonin oxidation, and melatonin's otherwise prevailing oxidation product N ¹-acetyl-N ²-formyl-5-methoxykynuramine, another cytoprotective metabolite, is only formed in relatively small quantities. The proportion between products from melatonin is changed by 1,4-diazabicyclo-(2,2,2)-octane: singlet oxygen, also formed under the influence of excited 2-hydroxyquinoxaline, only affects secondary reactions.     

Intestinal absorption of the acetamiprid neonicotinoid by Caco-2 cells: Transepithelial transport,cellular uptake and efflux

The human intestinal absorption of acetamiprid (AAP) using the Caco-2 cell line reveals that AAP flux was active in a bidirectional mode with an apparent permeability coefficient of 26^.10^?6 cm·s^?1 at 37°C. Apical uptake was concentration-dependent and unsaturated for AAP concentrations up to 200 μ M. AAP cell preloading demonstrated the involvement of active transport mechanisms. Arrhenius plot analysis revealed an unusual profile with two apparent activation energies suggesting two transport processes. Uptake Vi studies indicated the involvement of a sodium-dependent transporter, the presence of a common transporter of AAP and nicotine and the involvement of Ti-sensitive ATP-dependent efflux transporters. Apical efflux investigations showed the involvement of inward active transporter(s). Whereas vincristine had no effect on intracellular accumulation, taxol and daunorubicin treatments unexpectedly led to 10% and 23% reductions respectively, suggesting that the latter shared a common inward transporter with AAP. All these results suggest full and express AAP absorption in vivo with transport involving both inward and outward, passive and active mechanisms. Thus, AAP or its metabolites could be representative of a risk for human health after its ingestion in food.     

Changes in TcpA gene frequency explain 2,4,6-trichlorophenol degradation in mesocosms

Soils are often polluted by chlorophenols in timber production areas in the northern hemisphere. The tcpA gene encodes the first step of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (246-TCP) degradation. We tested tcpA gene frequency in three natural pristine soils with different 246-TCP degradation capacity. Gene tcpA frequency increased more in spiked than non-spiked 10-L pails containing coniferous humus soil with high degradation capacity, in contrast to soils where degradation was slower. As the soil in each mesocosm originated from a spatially separate field plot, changes in tcpA gene frequency affected 246-TCP degradation over a range of soil origins. This indicates that the abundance of and changes in tcpA gene frequency could be utilized in estimating the efficacy of natural attenuation and biostimulation treatments in controlled conditions.     

Ozone-driven photocatalyzed degradation and mineralization of pesticide,Triclopyr by Au/TiO2

Triclopyr is a widely used pesticide which is non-biodegradable and enters aquatic systems. The ozone facilitated photocatalyzed degradation and mineralization of Triclopyr using Au-loaded titania as heterogeneous catalyst is reported. The oxidative degradation activity of the hazardous pesticide was investigated at pH 7.8 under varied reaction conditions, including in presence and absence of ozone, titania alone, in presence and absence of light and with different loadings of Au on support. Photocatalysis with 2% Au/TiO₂ in the presence of ozone yielded 100% degradation of Triclopyr in 2 h. The extent of degradation of pesticide and its mineralization were confirmed by GC-MS. For 10 mg/L of Triclopyr, 0.1 g/L of catalyst was found to be the optimum for mineralization. Results show that photocatalyzed ozonation with Au/TiO₂ as catalyst is a very effective for its removal. No leaching of Au was observed in triplicate runs. Catalyst was fully recoverable and reusable with no loss of activity.     

The electron density distribution in pyridinium and bipyridylium compounds and its relevance to their adsorption by expanding lattice clays

Abstract

Charge distributions in 1, 1'‐ethylene‐2, 2'‐bipyridylium (diquat), 1,1'‐dimethyl‐4,4'‐bipyridylium (paraquat) and 1‐methylpyridinium organocations were calculated by a Complete Neglect of Differential Overlap semi‐empirical quantum mechanical procedure. The data show that the positive charges in the organocations are distributed around the molecules and are greatest in the positions ortho and para to the heterocyclic nitrogen atoms. Earlier interpretations of the mechanisms of adsorption of paraquat and diquat by soils and clays assumed that the charges were located in the heterocyclic nitrogen atoms. Here some consideration is given to the influence of the charge delocalizations on the processes of adsorption by montmorillonite and vermiculite clay preparations.