Intracellular biosynthesis of Au and Ag nanoparticles using ethanolic extract of Brassica oleracea L. and studies on their physicochemical and biological properties

In this present study, we reported broccoli (Brassica oleracea L.) as a potential candidate for the synthesis of gold and silver nanoparticles (NPs) in green chemistry method. The synthesized metal nanoparticles are evaluated their antimicrobial efficacy against different human pathogenic organisms. The physico-chemical properties of gold nanoparticles were analyzed using different analytical techniques such as a UV–Vis spectrophotometer, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and a Fourier Transform Infrared spectrophotometer. In addition, gold and silver NP antimicrobial efficacy was checked by disc diffusion assay. UV–Vis color intensity of the nanoparticles was shown at 540 and 450 nm for gold and silver nanoparticles respectively. Higher magnification of the Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy image shows the variable morphology of the gold nanoparticles such as spherical, rod and triangular shapes and silver nanoparticles were seen in spherical shapes. The average spherical size of the particles was observed in 24–38 nm for gold and 30–45 nm for silver NPs. X-ray diffraction pattern confirmed the presence of gold nanoparticles and silver nanoparticles which were crystalline in nature. Additionally, the functional metabolites were identified by the Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy. IR spectra revealed phenols, alcohols, aldehydes (sugar moieties), vitamins and proteins are present in the broccoli extract which are accountable to synthesize the nanoparticles. The synthesized gold and silver NPs inhibited the growth of the tested bacterial and fungal pathogens at the concentration of 50 μg/mL respectively. In addition, broccoli mediated gold and silver nanoparticles have shown potent antimicrobial activity against human pathogens.     

Impact of atrazine and nitrogen fertilizers on the sorption of chlorotoluron in soil and model sorbents

Sorption of chlorotoluron in ammonium sulfate, urea and atrazine multi-solutes system was investigated by batch experiments. The results showed application of nitrogen fertilizers to the soil could affect the behavior of chlorotoluron. At the same concentration of N, sorption of chlorotoluron decreased as the concentration of atrazine increased on the day 0 and 6 in soil, respectively. The sorption of chlorotoluron increased from 0 to 6 d when soils were preincubated with deionized water, ammonium sulfate and urea solution for 6 d. That indicated incubation time was one of the most important factors for the sorption of chlorotoluron in nitrogen fertilizers treatments. The individual sorption isotherms of chlorotoluron in rubbery polymer and silica were strictly linear in single solute system, but there were competition sorption between pesticides or between pesticides and nitrogen fertilizers. That indicated the sorption taken place by concurrent solid-phase dissolution mechanism and sorption on the interface of water-organic matter or water-mineral matter.     

二氯荧光黄为指示剂的硝酸银滴定法测定废水中氯化物

采用以二氯荧光黄为指示剂的硝酸银滴定法测定废水中氯化物。优化实验条件后,以该法测定质控样,相对误差-1.30%～2.70%,相对标准偏差0.10%～0.14%,加标回收率约为98%。用该法测定废水中氯化物是合理可行的。     

银膜富集法测定大气中的气态汞

探讨了用银膜富集管测定大气中气态汞的方法、影响气态汞吸收率的因素和银膜富集管的再生方法。结果表明 :银膜富集管对大气中的气态汞能有效富集。当银膜长 /管径大于 2 0 0 mm/4.5mm,流速为 0 .4L/min时 ,银膜富集管对气态汞的吸收率达 98%以上。     

Impact of urbanization on hydrochemical evolution of groundwater and on unsaturated-zone gas composition in the coastal city of Tel Aviv, Israel

The coastal city of Tel Aviv was founded at the beginning of the 20th century. The number of its inhabitants and its water consumption increased rapidly. This study analyses a 15-year record (1934-1948) of pre-industrial development of groundwater chemistry in the urban area. Archive data on concentrations of major ions, dissolved gases (CO2 and O2), organic matter, and pH were available for each half-year during the period of 1934-1948. The major factors causing changes in the chemistry of groundwater flowing in three sandy sub-aquifers have been seawater encroachment due to overpumping, and infiltration of effluents from pit-latrine collectors. Influence of these factors decreases with depth. Landward-penetrating seawater passed through clayey coastal sediments, interbedded among sands and calcareous sandstones, and spread into the Kurkar Group aquifer. This has led to exchange of sodium (dominant in seawater) with calcium adsorbed on clay particles, enriching groundwater with calcium. Intensity of cation exchange decreases inland and with depth. Infiltration of pit-latrine effluents has introduced large amounts of ammonium into the unsaturated zone. Its rapid oxidation in unsaturated sediments has caused massive nitrate production, accompanied by pore-water acidification. This process induces dissolution of vadose carbonate, resulting in enrichment of groundwater recharge in calcium. Anthropogenically induced dissolution of calcite in the unsaturated zone has been the major factor for the increase of Ca2+ concentration in groundwater, accounting for about 80% of this increase. In the interface zone, an additional 20% of calcium has been supplied by cation exchange. Owing to pH increase caused by denitrification in the aquifer, Ca(2+)-rich waters supersaturated with calcite could be formed, especially in the capillary fringe of the uppermost sub-aquifer, which could induce calcite precipitation and ultimately lead to the cementation of sandy aquifers. Urban development has caused drastic changes in the gas content in the unsaturated zone and in groundwater. Carbon dioxide was intensively generated by nitrification-denitrification processes, by hydration of urea, to a lesser degree by oxidation of organic matter, and probably by anoxic biodegradation of organics. Between 1934 and 1948, concentrations of CO2 in unsaturated sediment air rose from 3.2% to 7.6%. In the unsaturated zone, oxygen consumption for oxidation of ammonium and organic matter lowered O2 concentrations in sediment air to unusually low values of 3.9-12.9%. Nitrification in the urban unsaturated zone could thus serve as a pump, sucking in atmospheric oxygen at a rate of about 0.3-0.5 g m-2 day-1. The extreme concentrations of CO2 and O2 in unsaturated sediments have been preserved due to production and consumption of gas under conditions of diminishing areas open to the atmosphere, uncovered by buildings and by roads.     

自硬性玻璃基生物水泥的结构研究

利用X射线衍射和扫描电镜研究了玻璃基生物水泥在生理模拟液中羟基磷灰石（HAP）晶相的形成和长大，应用溶解－析晶理论，阐述了玻璃粉末与调和液及表面活性剂反应，形成HAP的动力学观点，实验结果表明，玻璃基生物水泥在调和液作用下，会形成HAP晶相，在生理模拟液中，随着时间的延长，晶体逐渐长大，图3表1参5     

草酸盐介导下含As(V)黄钾铁矾的相转化过程与As(V)的再分配行为

黄钾铁矾能够通过吸附和共沉淀作用固定酸性矿山废水（AMD）中的重（类）金属（如砷）,降低其迁移性和生物可利用性.草酸盐广泛存在于天然水环境中,其具有的羧酸官能团能改变铁矿物的稳定性,进而影响吸持的重（类）金属的再分配行为.利用水热法合成含As（V）黄钾铁矾,探究其在不同草酸盐浓度与pH条件下的溶解、重结晶和共沉淀As（V）的行为.研究结果表明,草酸盐与含As（V）黄钾铁矾表面Fe（III）活性位点配位形成的可溶性强络合物是促进矿物溶解的第一步和关键;在pH 2.5时,含As（V）黄钾铁矾的溶解速率随草酸盐浓度增加而增加,伴随大量As（V）释放到溶液,反应过程中只有少量As（V）重新吸附到固相上,这是由于草酸盐与As（V）竞争矿物表面的同一活性位点;在pH 6.5条件下,草酸盐促进含As（V）黄钾铁矾的重结晶,经X射线衍射分析表明针铁矿和纤铁矿为主要产物,能有效地吸附释放的As（V）.研究结果有助于揭示在AMD环境下黄钾铁矾沉积物与含羧酸官能团有机酸共存时对As（V）的释放和固定机理,对AMD环境中As（V）污染控制有重要意义.     

小球藻对土壤-水稻系统砷化学形态转化的影响

为揭示绿藻对土壤-水稻系统砷形态转化的影响特征,系统分析了不同浓度小球藻共存条件下水稻土砷氧化还原与溶解释放行为的变化,并结合水稻培育试验,对小球藻影响水稻砷吸收与体内砷形态的发生机制进行探讨.试验设置对照组及小球藻浓度（以体积分数计）分别为1%、5%、10%的处理,研究了小球藻对溶液体系、淹水土壤体系和淹水土壤-水稻体系中砷的化学形态转化的作用.结果表明:加藻组使As（Ⅲ）溶液和淹水土壤E_h（氧化还原电位）与pH均普遍高于对照组.在As（Ⅲ）溶液体系中,加藻组As（Ⅲ）氧化转化率较对照组升高2.38%~4.95%,该作用在淹水土壤中得到印证,小球藻的共存使土壤孔隙水ρ[As（Ⅴ）]较对照组升高129.22%~221.41%,而ρ（甲基砷）出现显著下降（5.25%~53.31%）.水稻栽培试验进一步发现,小球藻明显促进土壤中晶体态铁铝氧化物向弱结晶与无定形铁铝氧化物结合态砷等的转化,导致水稻幼苗对砷的吸收积累量增加-3.4%~23.11%,推测这与小球藻作用下土壤孔隙水ρ（DOC）的增加密切相关.研究显示,尽管小球藻有利于提高淹水土壤体系E_h并加速As（Ⅲ）的氧化转化,但小球藻可能通过有机酸等分泌物的竞争吸附作用促进铁铝氧化物结合态砷的溶解释放,从而增加水稻砷吸收;淡水藻类对土壤-水稻体系砷吸收积累的风险值得引起高度关注,并需要在大田试验中进一步加以验证.      

A nanofilter composed of carbon nanotube-silver composites for virus removal and antibacterial activity improvement

We have developed a new nanofilter using a carbon nanotube-silver composite material that is capable of efficiently removing waterborne viruses and bacteria.The nanofilter was subjected to plasma surface treatment to enhance its flow rate,which was improved by approximately 62%.Nanoscale pores were obtained by fabricating a carbon nanotube network and using nanoparticle fixation technology for the removal of viruses.The pore size of the nanofilter was approximately 38 nm and the measured flow rate ranged from 21.0 to 97.2 L/(min·m~2)under a pressure of 1–6 kgf/cm~2 when the amount of loaded carbon nanotube-silver composite was 1.0 mg/cm~2.The nanofilter was tested against Polio-,Noro-,and Coxsackie viruses using a sensitive real-time polymerase chain reaction assay to detect the presence of viral particles within the outflow.No trace of viruses was found to flow through the nanofilter with carbon nanotube-silver composite loaded above 0.8 mg/cm~2.Moreover,the surface of the filter has antibacterial properties to prevent bacterial clogging due to the presence of 20-nm silver nanoparticles,which were synthesized on the carbon nanotube surface.     

Silver-Russell syndrome as a cause for early intrauterine growth restriction

The diagnosis of Silver–Russell syndrome is based on the characteristic growth restriction and the presence of typical dysmorphic features. We present the prenatal and postnatal findings of a case that was treated at our perinatal center. The suspected diagnosis Silver–Russell syndrome was confirmed after delivery by our medical genetic and neonatology services. The authors want to point out that SRS should be considered in the differential diagnosis of early asymmetric intrauterine growth restriction. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.