Responses of a soil bacterium, Pseudomonas chlororaphis O6 to commercial metal oxide nanoparticles compared with responses to metal ions

The toxicity of commercially-available CuO and ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) to pathogenic bacteria was compared for a beneficial rhizosphere isolate, Pseudomonas chlororaphis O6. The NPs aggregated, released ions to different extents under the conditions used for bacterial exposure, and associated with bacterial cell surface. Bacterial surface charge was neutralized by NPs, dependent on pH. The CuO NPs were more toxic than the ZnO NPs. The negative surface charge on colloids of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) was reduced by Cu ions but not by CuO NPs; the EPS protected cells from CuO NPs-toxicity. CuO NPs-toxicity was eliminated by a Cu ion chelator, suggesting that ion release was involved. Neither NPs released alkaline phosphatase from the cells’ periplasm, indicating minimal outer membrane damage. Accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species was correlated with CuO NPs lethality. Environmental deposition of NPs could create niches for ion release, with impacts on susceptible soil microbes.     

Ce-MCM-22分子筛的合成与吸附动力学研究

采用静态水热晶化法,以硅溶胶为硅源、六亚甲基亚胺(HMI)为模板剂,通过掺杂Ce合成了具有MWW层状结构的Ce-MCM-22分子筛。并利用粉末X-射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电镜(SEM)、透射电镜(TEM)等方法对其进行了表征,对其进行了吸附动力学的研究。研究表明,Ce-MCM-22吸附动力方程拟一级方程为y=-0.028 1x-0.136,R2=0.983 4。Ce-MCM-22吸附动力方程拟二级方程为y=0.465 7x+1.2005,R2=0.999 5,说明拟二级反应模型更能真实地反映分子筛吸附亚甲蓝溶液的反应机理。     

土壤胡敏素对铜离子的吸附作用及其机理研究

以暗棕壤为供试土壤,研究了不同溶液pH值、离子强度、接触时间、反应温度和初始铜离子(Cu~(2+))浓度条件下,胡敏素对Cu~(2+)的吸附作用;利用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、X-射线能量色散谱(EDS)、傅立叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)和X-射线光电子能谱(XPS),对胡敏素/胡敏素-Cu~(2+)复合物的表面形貌、元素分布和官能团组成进行了分析;应用延展X-射线吸收精细结构谱(EXAFS),对吸附态Cu~(2+)的局域配位结构进行了表征.结果表明:胡敏素对Cu~(2+)的吸附量随pH值、接触时间、反应温度和Cu~(2+)浓度的增加而增加,但随离子强度的增加而下降;吸附动力学符合准二级动力学方程,而吸附等温线用Langmuir方程的拟合效果较好;吸附过程需要能量,是自发、吸热和自由度增加的缔合反应;吸附Cu~(2+)之后,胡敏素表面产生了团聚现象,表面羧基、羟基、吡啶氮和N—O基团参与了Cu~(2+)的吸附作用,同时吸附态Cu~(2+)是以内层配位形式与胡敏素表面的O/N和C原子结合.     

Morphology, composition, and sources of individual aerosol particles at a regional background site of the YRD, China

Aerosol samples were collected at Lin'an, a background site of Yangtze River Delta(YRD).Morphology, size, composition, and mixing state of individual aerosol particles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy(TEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(EDS), and the soluble ions of PM_(1.0) were studied by aerosol mass spectrometer(AMS). The daily average AMS mass concentrations of sulfate, nitrate, and ammonium were about 5.8, 8.6, and 5.6 μg/m~3, respectively. Individual aerosol particles were classified into seven types: S-rich, K-rich, organic matter(OM), soot, fly ash, metal, and mineral. S-rich particles were dominant in all size bins, and 51%(by number) of S-rich particles were internally mixed with other particles. The fraction of organic coating particles was 13.7% in morning, 25.2% in afternoon, and 11% in evening, suggesting that the strong photochemical process during afternoon produced more secondary organic aerosols(SOA) on the surface of inorganic particles. Fly ash and metal particles were abundant during the day, suggesting the influence of emissions from coal-fired power plants and steel plants. The results indicate that the intense industrial emissions in the YRD significantly transported to the background areas. PM_(2.5) concentration may be lower in background air than in urban air but complex mixing state of aerosol particles indicates that the long-range transported particles substantially influenced the background air quality.     

Electron microscopy documenting the cellular metabolic fate of Zn IONS∗

In vertebrates and invertebrates Zn exist as complexed compounds with metallothioneins. However, its cellular level effects and metabolic fates are scantly documented. In the elucidation of this fact, EM results on hepatic cellular alterations in fish under lethal dose exposure at 4.0 ppm over a week is illustrated.

A large number of lysosomes in hepatic cells prevailed on exposure to Zn in its sulfate form. Evidently, due to metal compound stress and cellular damage lysosomal activity is augmented. The lysosomes harboured digestible material, presumably the aforementioned substrates. Contrary to it, fat droplets prevailed while glycogen depletion is noticeable. Unlike the effects of Hg, the nuclei were normal with granular chromatin and prominent nucleoli. However, the mitochondria contained some small intramitochondrial bodies. Similar to the effects of Hg, the cell membrane remained intact.

In vivo enzymatic studies indicated augmentation in catalase, acid‐ and alkaline‐phosphatases, while glucose‐6‐phosphatase is inhibited. However, only alkaline‐ and glucose‐6‐phosphatases are inhibited under in vitro conditions.

Thus, it is evident that Zn enhances cellular bioenergetic requirements culminating in glycogen depletion owing to stress, concomitantly envisaging inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation in the electron transport system.     

Diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii in oligotrophic versus eutrophic culture: models and ultrastructure

Populations of marine diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii were grown in continuous cultures enriched with f/2 medium. One of the two contrasting cultures (‘eutrophic’) received 5.6 times more nutrients than the other (‘oligotrophic’). Two mathematical models are analyzed to estimate eutrophication differences. The second model based on the Michaelis–Menten uptake and Droop growth shows that cells in the eutrophic culture should have about 56% higher content of silica which is the limiting nutrient. Diatom samples were prepared for the transmission electron microscopy after cells have been kept in chemostats for 37 days. The structure of diatom cells was investigated and a comparison is made between cells grown in oligotrophic and eutrophic conditions. In eutrophic culture, dividing cells were encountered more frequently while cell concentration was approximately equal in both chemostats. The central vacuole of cells in eutrophic culture accumulated dispersed and compact material from amorphous to spherical shape. In some cells the large central vacuole had fibrilar and peppered dense materials in addition to translucent granules, vesicules and multivesicular bodies. In the cytoplasm we found increased number of multivesicular bodies, dense and lucent granules some of which enclose membrane particles and lucent vesicules. Dense material depositions observed in the vacuole are also seen in the cytoplasm associated with organelles, mitochondria and plasmalemma. Cells have well-developed, active and slightly increased number of dictyosomes (5–6). Some dictyosomes with dense secretory material in the cistern are apparently engaged in a granule formation process. Functional significance of dense material in the central vacuole, which has not been observed in cells grown in oligotrophic condition, is discussed.     

Nanocatalyzed biodiesel synthesis from the oily contents of Marine brown alga Dictyota dichotoma

This research article demonstrates biodiesel synthesis through the methanolysis of the oily contents (4.02 ± 0.27% w/w on dried basis) of Dictyota dichotoma collected from the coast of Hawksbay, Pakistan. The metal oxides (CaO, MgO, ZnO, and TiO₂) used as nanocatalysts were refluxed (5% K₂SO₄), calcinated (850 °C) and characterized by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) which produced 93.2% w/w FAME (biodiesel) at relatively mild condition (5% catalyst, 65 °C, 3 h, 18:1 molar ratio) using CaO. Whereas, MgO, ZnO, and TiO₂ produced 92.4%, 72.5%, and 31.8% w/w FAME, respectively at elevated condition (225 °C). Thus, CaO was considered to be the best catalyst among the others. This tri-phase reaction require continuous fast mixing and the yield depends on the reaction parameters like catalyst amount, temperature, reaction time and molar ratio (methanol: oil). The reusability of these heterogeneous catalysts simplified the purification step, reduced the waste generation and make the final product technically and economically viable.     

纳米硫化镉对A549细胞的损伤研究

研究纳米硫化镉(Nano-Cd S)材料对肺癌细胞系A549的毒性及氧化损伤作用。培养A549细胞,经传代后接种于6孔板中,每孔2 m L完全培养基,接种次日进行染毒。用直径20~30 nm、长度80~100 nm的Nano-Cd S进行染毒,染毒浓度分别为0、5、10、20、40和80 mg·L~(-1)。染毒24 h后用MTT检测细胞存活率,以存活率在80%左右的浓度为后续实验染毒浓度。应用流式细胞技术,用荧光探针法检测A549细胞的活性氧(reactive oxygen species,ROS)含量,PI-Annexin-V法检测细胞凋亡情况;用试剂盒检测细胞中超氧化物岐化酶(superoxide dismutase,SOD)和过氧化氢酶(catalase,CAT)活性以及丙二醛(malondialdehyde,MDA)含量,判断细胞氧化损伤情况。不同浓度Nano-Cd S处理细胞24 h之后,细胞存活率随剂量的增加而下降,浓度为10、20、40和80μg·L~(-1)时,存活率分别为(88.71%±0.80%)、(81.93%±3.06%)、(75.23%±1.13%)和(70.66%±5.63%),且各组间差异均具有统计学意义(P0.05)。以浓度为10和20 mg·L~(-1)的Nano-Cd S染毒24 h后,胞内ROS含量和细胞凋亡率随染毒剂量的增加而增加(P0.05);浓度为10 mg·L~(-1)时,细胞凋亡率为(6.26%±0.44%)。与对照相比,各染毒组SOD和CAT活性和MDA含量升高,20 mg·L~(-1)染毒组SOD和CAT活性和MDA含量高于10 mg·L~(-1)染毒组(P0.05)。研究表明,纳米硫化镉能引起A549细胞的氧化损伤和细胞凋亡,具有明显的细胞毒性。     

Insights into the dissolution and the three-dimensional structure of insensitive munitions formulations

Two compounds, 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN) and 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO) are the main ingredients in a suite of explosive formulations that are being, or soon will be, fielded at military training ranges. We aim to understand the dissolution characteristics of DNAN and NTO and three insensitive muntions (IM) formulations that contain them. This information is needed to accurately predict the environmental fate of IM constituents, some of which may be toxic to people and the environment. We used Raman spectroscopy to identify the different constituents in the IM formulations and micro computed tomography to image their three-dimensional structure. These are the first three-dimensional images of detonated explosive particles.