A method for the isolation of microorganisms producing extracellular long-side-chain poly (β-hydroxyalkanoate) depolymerase

A simple method was developed for the preparation of an autoclavable, long-side-chain poly (0">-hydroxyalkanoate) (LSC-PHA) colloidal suspension, which was used as a substrate for enzymatic degradation and to prepare agar overlay plates for the isolation of microorganisms producing extracellular LSC-PHA depolymerase. Six cultures producing extracellular LSC-PHA depolymerase were isolated from a composted hydrocarbon-contaminated soil. All were pseudomonads or related bacteria. All (with the possible exception ofXanthomonas maltophilia) could produce LSC PHA. Except forX. maltophilia none could hydrolyze poly (0">-hydroxybutyrate). Screening of sevenPseudomonas strains known to accumulate LSC PHA showed that all were negative for extracellular LSC-PHA depolymerase production. It was concluded that extracellular LSC-PHA depolymerase producers are found mostly in the genusPseudomonas but that they are relatively uncommon.     

Characterization and enzymatic degradation of a cross-linked bacterial polyester

The bacterial polyester, poly(00h3p1/xxlarge946.gif" alt="beta" align="MIDDLE" BORDER="0">-hydroxybutyrate-co-00h3p1/xxlarge946.gif" alt="beta" align="MIDDLE" BORDER="0">-hydroxyvalerate) (PHB/V), was cross-linked with 1, 5, 7, 10, 20, and 30 wt% benzoyl peroxide by thermal decomposition reactions. Solvent extractions were carried out to determine the cross-linked fractions of the films. The sol/gel data were used to estimate cross-link densities. Films of PHB/V cross-linked with 10% benzoyl peroxide were placed in contact with purified depolymerase A secreted byP. lemoignei. These samples exhibited weight loss rates which were half that of un-cross-linked PHB/V, but the network was degraded completely by the enzyme. The results of this study suggest that anendo-type enzymatic degradation may occur, in addition to theexo-type activity, which is normally presumed to occur with theP. lemoignei depolymerase system.     

Plant volatiles affect oviposition by codling moths

Summary. Oviposition in wild codling moth females, collected as overwintering larvae from apple, pear and walnut, was stimulated by volatiles from fruit-bearing green branches of these respective hostplants. Analysis of headspace collections showed that eight compounds present in apple, pear and walnut elicited a reliable antennal response in codling moth females: (E)-0/xxlarge946.gif" alt="beta" align="MIDDLE" BORDER="0">-ocimene, 4,8-dimethyl-1,(E)3,7-nonatriene, (Z)3-hexenyl acetate, nonanal, 0/xxlarge946.gif" alt="beta" align="MIDDLE" BORDER="0">-caryophyllene, germacrene D, (E,E)-0/xxlarge945.gif" alt="agr" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0">-farnesene, and methyl salicylate. Any one of these compounds is found in many other non-host plants, and host recognition in codling moth is thus likely encoded by a blend of volatiles. A large variation in the blend proportion of these compounds released from apple, pear and walnut suggests a considerable plasticity in the female response to host plant odours. Wild females, collected as overwintering larvae in the field, laid significantly fewer eggs in the absence of host plant volatiles. The offspring of these females, however, reared on a semi-artificial diet in the laboratory, laid as many eggs with or without plant volatile stimulus. Tests with individual females showed that this rapid change in oviposition behaviour may be explained by selection for females which oviposit in the absence of odour stimuli, rather than by preimaginal conditioning of insects when rearing them on semi-artificial diet. Oviposition bioassays using laboratory-reared females are therefore not suitable to identify the volatile compounds which stimulate egglaying in wild females.     

Leaf volatiles and polyphenols in pear trees infested byPsylla pyricola. Evidence of simultaneously induced responses

Summary Feeding by the homopteranPsylla pyricola on leaves of pear trees induces the production of volatile compounds, such as (E,E)-00x79/xxlarge945.gif" alt="agr" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0">-farnesene and methyl-salicylate, as well as the production of polyphenols. The inference on induction is based on GC-MS and HPLC chromatograms from the same samples ofPsylla infested leaves, leaves from the same pear tree beforePsylla infestation and uninfested leaves from other pear trees.Psylla infestation greatly enhanced the production of volatiles ((E,E)-00x79/xxlarge945.gif" alt="agr" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0">-farnesene, methyl-salicylate and others) and triggered the production of new polyphenols, characterized by much longer retention times.However, the responses to infestation depend critically on leaf age (defined by leaf distance to apex). With respect to the leaf volatiles it appears that infested, old leaves produce fewer compounds and lower amounts of the volatiles than infested, young leaves. Moreover, there seem to be differences in pattern. Relative to (E,E)-00x79/xxlarge945.gif" alt="agr" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0">-farnesene, methyl-salicylate was found in much lower amounts in heavily infested, old leaves. With respect to polyphenols it was found that infested old leaves collected in August have polyphenols with the same retention times, but more or less equal amounts as uninfested young leaves collected in May. This shows thatPsylla infestation causes the induced response mostly in young leaves.The induced leaf volatiles may act as synomones to heteropteran bugs. As shown elsewhere,Anthocoris nemoralis responds significantly to (E,E)-00x79/xxlarge945.gif" alt="agr" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0">-farnesene and methyl-salicylate when offered in pure form against clean air in a Y-tube olfactometer. The effect of polyphenols on the performance ofP. pyricola is not yet known. Hence, a role in direct defence is still to be investigated.     

0D/3D direct Z-scheme heterojunctions hybridizing by MoS2 quantum dots and honeycomb conjugated triazine polymers (CTPs) for enhanced photocatalytic performance

Herein, a novel direct Z-scheme photocatalyst was accomplished by hybridization of 0D MoS₂ quantum dots (MSQDs) and 3D honeycomb-like conjugated triazine polymers (CTP) (namely, CTP-MSQD). The unique 0D/3D hierarchical structure significantly enhanced the exposure of active sites and light harvesting property, while the formed p-n junction enabled the direct strong interface coupling without the necessity of any mediators. The optimized CTP-MSQD3 exhibited continuously increased visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity and strong durability both in Cr(VI) reduction and H₂ evolution, featured a rate of 0.069 min⁻¹ and 1070 µmol/(hr∙g), respectively, which were 8 times than those of pure 3D-CTP (0.009 min⁻¹ and 129 µmol/(hr∙g)). We believe that this work provides a promising photocatalyst system that combines a 0D/3D hierarchical structure and a Z-scheme charge flow for efficient and stable photocatalytic conversion.     

Are the Curative Properties of ‘Black Mud’ from the Dead Sea Due to the Presence of Bitumen (Asphalt) or Other Types of Organic Matter?

Deep black clayey sediments of the Dead Sea, previously covered with water at times of higher sea level, are being mined for therapeutic purposes and for the preparation of cosmetic products under the name 0">Black Mud0">. It was claimed that the beneficial properties are due to the presence of bitumen (asphalt) as attested by the colour. Less commonly, the curative properties have been ascribed to humic acids or to organic matter derived from algae in the lake. Asphalt from the Dead Sea has been of major economic importance to the region and was used as a medication for 2000 years until the mid-20th century. Geochemical analysis of the Black Mud showed that it contains relatively little organic matter (ca. 0.6013;0.8% organic carbon) and that the organic matter is mostly derived from the land masses surrounding the lake. Asphalt was totally absent and the concentration of humic acids very low. The black colour of the mud is rather due to the poorly crystallised iron sulphides. Based on this, the therapeutic properties of the mud are ascribed to its content of reduced sulphur species, its physical and chemical properties and possibly its brine content, but not to the presence of organic matter.     

无标准石墨炉原子吸收的绝对分析

介绍和讨论了石墨炉原子吸收特征质量m0的概念,并对一些元素m0的理论计算值与测定值作了比较。结果表明,鉴于恒温平台石墨炉(STPE)技术的应用,有可能发展为无标准原子吸收的绝对分析。     

两种土壤中对硝基氯苯被Fe~0还原的对比研究

利用零价铁(Fe~0)还原技术修复受对氯硝基苯(p-CNB)污染的土壤,研究常温常压下松砂土和中壤土两种不同土壤的理化性质对还原反应的影响.结果表明:Fe0能有效还原松砂土和中壤土中的p-CNB,生成对应的苯胺化合物,降低毒性;当土壤中p-CNB的含量约为2.5×10~(-6)mol·g~(-1),Fe~0用量为25 mg·g~(-1),反应体系中水分含量为0.75 mL·g~(-1)时,于25℃反应2 h后,松砂土和中壤土中p-CNB的还原率均超过93%;还原反应在中壤土中进行得较快.污染物在土壤中的老化时间对Fe~0还原降解效果影响很小,而土壤粒径、土壤是否灭菌以及土壤有机质含量等因素则对还原有较明显影响;还原降解反应在没有灭菌、有机质含量较高且粒径偏小的壤土中进行得最彻底.     

Business Process Reengineering of emergency management procedures: A case study

The production and storage of dangerous substances in an industrial establishment creates risks for man, environment and properties in the surrounding area. Safety regulations require the establishment of a preventive information campaign regarding industrial risks and self-defence measures to adopt in an emergency situation. In the case of a major accident, people must be promptly made aware of the appropriate self-defence actions and behaviours to adopt. This strategic activity can reduce the panic effect, make citizens more cooperative and guarantee the effectiveness of any emergency plan. In this paper, the information chain is studied as an industrial process modelled by the IDEF0 language. Through this method, each link in the chain has been deeply analysed. For each function of the process, the inputs, outputs and necessary controls and resources have been identified. Starting from a clear view of the current state, the process of re-engineering has been implemented to minimise or eliminate downtime, deficiencies and illnesses and, thus, consequent time losses. The main contribution of the IDEF0 application in emergency management is to provide a clear view of the whole system, a communication system between emergency actors, a rich information source and a structured base for the re-engineering process.