Organic geochemical studies of sinking particulate material in China sea area(I) - Organic matter fluxes and distributional features of hydrocarbon compounds and fatty acids

Sinking particulate material collected from Nansha Yongshu reef lagoon and the continental shelf of the East China Sea by sediment traps has been analyzed and studied for the first time using organic geochemical method. The results show that about half of the sinking particulate organic matter in the two study areas are consumed before reaching the depth of 5 m to the sea floor and the degree of this consumption in Yongshu reef lagoon is larger than that in the continental shelf of the East China Sea. The distributions of hydrocarbons and fatty acids indicate that the minor difference of biological sources of sinking particulate organic matter exists between Yongshu reel lagoon and the continental shelf of the East China Sea, but they mainly come from marine plankton. Stronger biological and biochemical transformations of sinking particulate organic matter are also observed and the intensity of this transformation in Yongshu reef lagoon is greater than that in the continental shelf of the East China Sea. It is found that the occurrence of C-25 highly branched isoprenoid (HBI) diene may be related to the composition of diatom species.

Synthesis and hydroxyl radicals scavenging activity of quaternized carboxymethyl chitosan

In order to determine the effect of the forms of the amido groups of chitosan on antioxidant activity, quaternized carboxymethyl chitosan (QCMC) derivatives were prepared with a degree of quaternization ranging from 34.3% to 59.5%. The antioxidant activity of QCMCs against hydroxyl radicals was assessed. The results indicated that QCMCs have better hydroxyl radicals scavenging activity than that of carboxymethyl chitosan, as a result of the positive charge of the quaternized chitosan. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Hydroxyl radicals scavenging activity of N-substituted chitosan and quaternized chitosan

N-substituted chitosan and quaternized chitosan were synthesized and their antioxidant activity against hydroxyl radicals was assessed, respectively. Compared with the antioxidant activity of chitosan, the results indicated that the two kinds of chitosan derivatives had different scavenging ability on hydroxyl radicals, which should be related to the form of amido in the two kinds of chitosan derivatives. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

促进剂对高碳数碳氢燃料点火特性的影响

在JP-10和煤油点火特性激波管实验基础上,进行了促进剂CH_3NO_2、CH_2Cl_2对JP-10和煤油点火特性影响的实验.在预加热激波管上采用缝合运行技术,获得了近7ms的实验时间.采用单色仪和光电倍增管记录点火过程中OH自由基在306.5nm发射谱强度变化作为点火发生的判据.当促进剂加入量约为JP-10的10%～20%(摩尔比),质量比为5%～12%时,实验观测到明显的点火促进作用.在1100K时,添加10%(摩尔比)CH_3NO_2使JP-10的点火延时时间缩短了70%.当CH_3NO_2的加入量占煤油的10%～15%(摩尔比),质量比约为5%～6%时,对煤油点火有明显的促进作用,在1000K时使煤油点火延时时间缩短了50%.

Hybrid Qm/Mm Simulation Of The Hydration Phenomena Of Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine Headgroup

The polar headgroup of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) molecule both in gas phase and aqueous Solution is investigated by the hybrid quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) method, in which the polar head of DPPC molecule and the bound water molecules are treated with density functional theory (DFT), while the apolar hydrocarbon chain of DPPC molecule is treated with MM method. It is demonstrated that the hybrid QM/MM method is both accurate and efficient to describe the conformations of DPPC headgroup. Folded structures of headgroup are found in gas phase calculations. In this work, both monohydration and polyhydration phenomena are investigated. In monohydration, different water association sites are studied. Both the hydration energy and the quantum properties of DPPC and water molecules are calculated at the DFT level of theory after geometry optimization. The binding force of monohydration is estimated by using the scan method. In polyhydration, more extended conformations are found and hydration energies in different polyhydration styles are estimated. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Influence of HCl on CO and NO emissions in combustion

The influence of HCl on CO and NO emissions was experimentally investigated in an entrained flow reactor (EFR) and an internally circulating fluidized bed (ICFB). The results in EFR show the addition of HCl inhibits CO oxidation and NO formation at 1073 K and 1123 K. At the lower temperature (1073 K) the inhibition of HCl becomes more obvious. In ICFB, chlorine-containing plastic (PVC) was added to increase the concentration of HCl during the combustion of coal or coke. Results show that HCl is likely to enhance the reduction of NO and N2O. HCl greatly increases CO and CH4 emission in the flue gas. A detailed mechanism of CO/NO/HCl/SO2 system was used to model the effect of HCl in combustion. The results indicate that HCl not only promotes the recombination of radicals O, H, and OH, but also accelerates the chemical equilibration of radicals. The influence of HCl on the radicals mainly occurs at 800-1200 K. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

渤海湾不同站点四角蛤蜊软体部重金属含量及AhR 通道研究

渤海湾沿岸人口密集，工农、航运发达，渤海自身净化能力非常有限。因此，渤海湾 环境污染的压力越来越大，主要污染物包括重金属和持久性有机污染物的。四角蛤蜊广泛 分布于渤海湾海域，是一种重要的经济贝类，对污染物具有较强的富集能力。为了研究不 同站点渤海湾四角蛤蜊软体部重金属含量，选择大港油田、高沙岭码头、涧河村三个断面 进行研究，对不同站点四角蛤蜊软体部重金属含量进行了分析和讨论，最后对水生动物的 POPs 毒理调控通道进行了探索性研究，得到以下结果： 1. 通过比较渤海不同站点四角蛤蜊软体部重金属含量分布特征和方差分析，发现四 角蛤蜊软体部必需重金属元素含量较高，而非必需重金属元素含量较低，这是由于必需重 金属元素具有重要的生理功能作用。侧重比较A、B 两个断面各站位间四角蛤蜊软体部重 金属含量，发现虽然各站位间分布规律不明显，但各站位间差异显著。 2. 利用简单相关回归分析金属元素间及其与生物学性状间的关系，发现Mn 与Zn 之 间，Cu 与Zn 间均存在显著正相关，Se 与As、Cd 间存在显著正相关。另外，A 断面，BL 与Cd 含量显著负相关其回归方程为：Y（Cd）=－1395.97＋88.34（BL）；R=0.633；在B 断面，利用BW 和BH 分别与Cd 和As 显著负相关和显著正相关，其回归方程分别为：BW 和Cd 的回归方程为：Y（Cd）=－1968.80＋220.72（BW）；R=0.656。BH 和As 的回归方 程为：Y（As）=1496.86＋227.82（BH）；R=0.656。 3. 利用PLS（偏最小二乘分析）方法分析，发现五个生物学性状都与Co、As 呈正相 关，而与Cr、Pb、Se 呈负相关，而与必须重金属元素相关不明显。进一步分析表明表明 渤海湾海域中Co、As 含量低于四角蛤蜊正常生长发育的需要，而Cr、Pb、Se 的含量超过 四角蛤蜊正常生长发育所需的量。最后，通过PLS-DA 分析方法，发现C 站点样品能与A、 B 两个断面的站点区分开，而A、B 间未能区分开，反映了渤海湾三个断面的实际污染状 况。 4. 四角蛤蜊软体部重金属含量进行风险评价，首先，利用单因子污染指数法比较分析， 发现从1997 年-2008 年，渤海湾四角蛤蜊软体部Cd 的污染水平在不断降低，现在其含量 已低于《海洋生物质量标准》（第二类）标准。而Cr、As 有污染的趋势，需要引起重视。 然后，利用金属污染指数法进行比较研究，发现B 断面＞A 断面＞C 断面。最后，利用《人 体消费卫生标准》进行比较分析，发现Cd、Ni 存在轻度污染，因此需要加强其污染源的 控制。 5. 渤海湾污染物除了重金属外，还存在一些典型持久性有机污染物。为进一步揭示 二者间协同毒理机制，利用分子系统学方法，对芳香烃受体通道进行了探索性研究，发现 水生动物AhR通道基因在进化过程中发生了适应性进化，对进一步研究重金属和POPs对双 壳贝类的毒理机制具有参考价值。

Frog skins keep redox homeostasis by antioxidant peptides with rapid radical scavenging ability

The question of how amphibians can protect themselves from reactive oxygen species when exposed to the sun in an oxygen-rich atmosphere is important and interesting, not only from an evolutionary viewpoint, but also as a primer for researchers interested in mammalian skin biology, in which such peptide systems for antioxidant defense are not well studied. The identification of an antioxidant peptide named antioxidin-RL from frog (Odorrana livida) skin in this report supports the idea that a peptide antioxidant system may be a widespread antioxidant strategy among amphibian skins. Its ability to eliminate most of the 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical tested within 2 s, which is much faster than the commercial antioxidant factor butylated hydroxytoluene, suggests that it has a potentially large impact on redox homeostasis in amphibian skins. Cys10 is proven to be responsible for its rapid radical scavenging function and tyrosines take part in the binding of antioxidin-RL to radicals according to our nuclear magnetic resonance assay. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The response of antioxidant systems in Nostoc sphaeroides against UV-B radiation and the protective effects of exogenous antioxidants

UV radiation is one of many harmful factors found in space that are detrimental to organisms on earth in space exploration. In the present work, we examined the role of antioxidant system in Nostoc sphaeroides Kutz (Cyanobacterium) and the effects of exogenously applied antioxidant molecules on its photosynthetic rate under UV-B radiation. It was found that UV-B radiation promoted the activity of antioxidant system to protect photosystem 11 (PSII) and exogenously applied antioxidant: sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) had an obvious protection on PSII activity under UV-B radiation. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6), peroxidase (POD, EC 1.11.1.7) and content of NIDA (malondialdehyde) and ASC (ascorbate) were improved by 0.5 mM and 1 mM SNP, but 0.1 mM SNP decreased the activity of antioxidant system. Addition of exogenous NAC decreased the activity of SOD, POD, CAT and the content MDA and ASC. In contrast, exogenously applied NAC increased GSH content. The results suggest that exogenous SNP and NAC may protect algae by different mechanisms: SNP may play double roles as both sources of reactive free radicals as well as ROS scavengers in mediating the protective role of PSII on algae under UV-B radiation. On the other hand, NAC functions as an antioxidant or precursor of glutathione, which could protect PSII directly from UV-B radiation. (c) 2007 COSPAR, Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Free radical scavenging and antioxidant enzymes activation of polysaccharide extract from Nostoc sphaeroides

Nostoc sphaeroides Kuetzing has been used as a traditional medicine in China to treat a variety of ailments. This research identified the antioxidant activities of polysaccharide extract from Nostoc sphaeroides. The extract, which contains 46.2% carbohydrates, exhibited an effective scavenging capability on superoxide radical, hydroxyl radicals in non site-specific as well as site-specific assays, and also performed lipid peroxidation inhibition in a dose-dependent manner. Polysaccharide extract had no 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging potential at all test concentrations. Activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase in human embryo kidney 293 cells were increased effectively when Nostoc sphaeroides extract was applied. These results suggested that the use of N. sphaeroides in treating ailments may be based on the antioxidant capacities of polysaccharide composition.

Monitoring bioaccumulation and toxic effects of hexachlorobenzene using the polyurethane foam unit method in the microbial communities of the Fuhe River, Wuhan

Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) is a chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbon that was widely used for seed dressing in prevention of fungal growth on crops, and also as a component of fireworks, ammunition, and synthetic rubbers. Because of its resistance to degradation and mobility, HCB is widely distributed throughout the environment and is accumulated through food chains in different ecosystems. In this study, a preliminary investigation was carried out on the bioaccumulation and the toxic effects of HCB in the microbial (protozoan in particular) communities in the Fuhe River, Wuhan, a water body receiving industrial wastewaters containing HCB and other pollutants, using the standardized polyurethane foam units (PFU) method. Field samples were taken from eight stations established along the Fuhe River in January and August 2006. The concentration ratios of HCB in microbial communities and in water were 9.66-18.64, and the microbial communities accumulated 13.29-56.88 mu g/L of HCB in January and 0.82-10.25 mu g/L HCB in August. Correlation analysis showed a negative correlation between the HCB contents in the microbial assemblage, and the number of species and the diversity index of the protozoan communities. This study demonstrated the applicability of the PFU method in monitoring the effects of HCB on the level of microbial communities.

Photodegradation of 2-naphthol in aqueous solutions in the presence of humic acid and ferric ions

In this work, the photodegradation of the carcinogenic pollutant 2-naphthol in aqueous solution containing Aldrich humic acid (HA) and ferric ions (Fe(III)) under 125 W and 250 W high pressure mercury lamp (HPML, lambda >= 365 nm) irradiation was investigated. The photooxidation efficiencies were dependent on the pH values, light intensities and Fe(III)/HA concentration in the water, with higher efficiency at pHs 3-4, and 50 mu mol l(-1) Fe(III) with 20 mg l(-1) HA under 250 W HPML. The initial rate of photooxidation increases with increasing, the initial concentration of 2-naphthol from 10 mu mol l(-1) to 100 mu mol l(-1), while do not change at 50 and 100 mu mol l(-1). However, higher removal efficiency of 2-naphthol is achieved at its lower initial concentration of 10 mu mol l(-1), and initial rate of photooxidation is 0.193 mu mol l(-1) min(-1). Dissolved oxygen (DO) plays an important role in the system containing Fe(III)-HA complexes in which Fenton and photo-Fenton reactions were enhanced in the environment. Hydroxyl radicals produced in HA solution with or without ferric ions were determined by using benzene as free radical scavenger and phenol as scavenging products proportional to hydroxyl radicals. By using UV-Vis and excited fluorescence spectrum techniques, the main photooxidation products, which have higher absorption in the region of 240-340 nm, were found, and the mechanisms for the oxidative degradation is proposed.

Evaluation of soot particles of biomass fuels with endocrine-modulating activity in yeast-based bioassay

Exposure to indoor air pollution (IAP) from the combustion of biomass fuels is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. In the work discussed in this paper we evaluated the endocrine activity of soot particles from biomass fuels by using yeast bioassay. These pollutants could have beta-galactosidase activity with a relative potency (RP) about 10(-7)-10(-9) that of estradiol. Soot particles from wood and straw combustion only partially induced beta-galactosidase activity whereas others produced fully inductive activity in the yeast assay system. These pollutants did not have estrogen antagonist and progesterone agonist activity within the defined concentration range. However, these pollutants require 2-4 orders of magnitude higher IC50 to inhibit the activity of progesterone in a similar dose-response manner to mifepristone. We therefore propose that the endocrine activity of some environmental pollutants may be because of inhibition of the progesterone receptor (hPR). GC-MS results showed that substituted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds, substituted phenolic compounds and derivatives, aromatic carbonyl compounds, and phytosteroids in these soot particles may be mimicking endogenous hormones.