Electrochemically Stable Sodium Metal‐Tellurium/Carbon Nanorods Batteries

Electrochemical metal cells utilizing tellurium and sodium chemistry are being extensively explored for developing advanced high‐performance batteries. The daunting challenges, however, still remain with low rate capability/volumetric capacity, unclear redox reaction processes, and the notorious sodium dendrites. Here, a cell design that features a novel Te/carbon nanorods cathode and a tailored ether‐based electrolyte is reported. It is the first report of Na metal‐Te full batteries with performance comparable to those of reported Na‐S and Na‐Se batteries at low ratings. By using the semimetal Te instead of the insulating S or Se, the Na‐Te batteries actually outperform reported Na‐S and Na‐Se batteries at high ratings. Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, UV–vis spectrum, ex situ X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy results clearly reveal a three‐step redox process and stability of the Na metal‐Te cells. These comprehensive results demonstrate the feasibility of practical Na metal‐Te batteries with high volumetric energy density and a viable cell fabrication cost.     

Role of Organotellurium Species in Tellurium Neuropathy

Exposure of weanling rats to a diet containing 1% elemental tellurium causes segmental demyelination of peripheral nerve, and an inhibition of squalene epoxidase. This inhibition is thought to be the mechanism of action leading to demyelination. Tellurite appears to be the active inhibitory species in a cell-free system but the active species in vivo is unknown. We examined potassium tellurite (K₂TeO₃) and three organotellurium compounds for their ability to inhibit squalene epoxidase in Schwann cell cultures and to induce demyelination in weanling rats. K₂TeO₃ had no effect on squalene epoxidase activity in cultured Schwann cells and caused no demyelination in vivo. All three organotellurium compounds caused inhibition of squalene epoxidase in vitro and caused demyelination in vivo. (CH₃)₂TeCl₂ was the most potent of these compounds and its neuropathy most resembled that caused by elemental tellurium. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that tellurium-induced demyelination is a result of squalene epoxidase inhibition and suggest that a dimethyltelluronium compound may be the neurotoxic species presented to Schwann cells in vivo.     

Tracing Tellurium and Its Nanostructures in Biology

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the intakes of some kinds of vitamins and minerals are associated with periodontitis in a nationally representative sample of young adults. This study comprised 2049 young adults aged 19–39 years who took both periodontal examination and nutrition survey. The vitamin and mineral intakes were calculated from dietary intake data gained by complete one-day 24-h recall interviews, and the intake levels for each nutrient were classified by the Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) in Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans and median values. Periodontitis was assessed using Community Periodontal Index (CPI). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed in a whole sample and subgroups with the strata of gender or smoking, following a complex sampling design. In analyses according to RNI, a lower intake of niacin was significantly associated with periodontitis in young adults (odd ratio [OR] 1.47, 95% confidential interval [CI] 1.09–2.00) and in its subgroup of women (OR 1.70; 95% CI 1.10–2.64) and current non-smokers (OR 1.75; 95% CI 1.22–2.51). Whereas, in analyses according to median intake values, there were significant associations of periodontitis with a lower intake of niacin in women (OR 1.58; 95% CI 1.02–2.46) and current non-smokers (OR 1.50; 95% CI 1.01–2.22), with lower intake of vitamin C in women (OR 1.66; 95% CI 1.04–2.64) and in current non-smokers (OR 1.49; 95% CI 1.04–2.14), with lower intake of iron in women (OR 1.85; 95% CI 1.11–3.07), and with lower intake of vitamin A marginally in women (OR 1.56; 95% CI 1.00–2.44). In young adults, periodonitis is significantly associated with the lower intakes of niacin, vitamin C, and iron, especially in women and current non-smokers.     

钝顶螺旋藻对无机碲的吸收代谢作用

研究钝顶螺旋藻对无机碲的吸收代谢作用,在钝顶螺旋藻稳定生长期(7d、8d、9d)添加700～1000 mg·L~(-1)的亚碲酸钠。结果表明,钝顶螺旋藻对无机碲有良好的有机化作用,其有机化比率达到75～80%;藻体中不同组分(固体残余物、水溶性蛋白、非蛋白水溶性物质)均有结合碲,这些组分主要是水溶性蛋白。此外,气态碲的产量和产率均随着碲剂量的增大而增加,当碲的累计浓度为1000mg·L~(-1)时,培养液中无机碲的残余率为48%,表明钝顶螺旋藻在生物修复碲污染方面有很大的开发应用潜力。     

Syntheses of Some New Five-Membered Heterocycles Containing Selenium and Tellurium

The syntheses of some new chalcogenazole 1 and chalcogenophene 2, 3 derivatives under conventional Gewald’s conditions [1–4], by the action of ultrasound and focused microwave irradiation is reported. It was found that although ultrasound accelerated the described reaction significantly, the focused microwave irradiation manifested itself even more significantly.     

In Vitro and In Vivo Activity of an Organic Tellurium Compound on Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi

Tellurium compounds have shown several biological properties and recently the leishmanicidal effect of one organotellurane was demonstrated. These findings led us to test the effect of the organotellurium compound RF07 on Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi, the agent of visceral leishmaniasis in Latin America. In vitro assays were performed in L. (L.) chagasi-infected bone marrow derived macrophages treated with different concentrations of RF07. In in vivo experiments Golden hamsters were infected with L. (L.) chagasi and injected intraperitoneally with RF07 whereas control animals received either Glucantime or PBS. The effect of RF07 on cathepsin B activity of L. (L.) chagasi amastigotes was assayed spectrofluorometrically using fluorogenic substrates. The main findings were: 1) RF07 showed significant leishmanicidal activity against intracellular parasites at submicromolar concentrations (IC50 of 529.7±26.5 nM), and the drug displayed 10-fold less toxicity to macrophages (CC50 of 5,426±272.8 nM); 2) kinetics assays showed an increasing leishmanicidal action of RF07 at longer periods of treatment; 3) one month after intraperitoneal injection of RF07 L. (L.) chagasi-infected hamsters showed a reduction of 99.6% of parasite burden when compared to controls that received PBS; 4) RF07 inhibited the cathepsin B activity of L. (L.) chagasi amastigotes. The present results demonstrated that the tellurium compound RF07 is able to destroy L. (L.) chagasi in vitro and in vivo at concentrations that are non toxic to the host. We believe these findings support further study of the potential of RF07 as a possible alternative for the chemotherapy of visceral leishmaniasis.     

Volatilization and Precipitation of Tellurium by Aerobic, Tellurite-Resistant Marine Microbes

Microbial resistance to tellurite, an oxyanion of tellurium, is widespread in the biosphere, but the geochemical significance of this trait is poorly understood. As some tellurite resistance markers appear to mediate the formation of volatile tellurides, the potential contribution of tellurite-resistant microbial strains to trace element volatilization in salt marsh sediments was evaluated. Microbial strains were isolated aerobically on the basis of tellurite resistance and subsequently examined for their capacity to volatilize tellurium in pure cultures. The tellurite-resistant strains recovered were either yeasts related to marine isolates of Rhodotorula spp. or gram-positive bacteria related to marine strains within the family Bacillaceae based on rRNA gene sequence comparisons. Most strains produced volatile tellurides, primarily dimethyltelluride, though there was a wide range of the types and amounts of species produced. For example, the Rhodotorula spp. produced the greatest quantities and highest diversity of volatile tellurium compounds. All strains also produced methylated sulfur compounds, primarily dimethyldisulfide. Intracellular tellurium precipitates were a major product of tellurite metabolism in all strains tested, with nearly complete recovery of the tellurite initially provided to cultures as a precipitate. Different strains appeared to produce different shapes and sizes of tellurium containing nanostructures. These studies suggest that aerobic marine yeast and Bacillus spp. may play a greater role in trace element biogeochemistry than has been previously assumed, though additional work is needed to further define and quantify their specific contributions.     

Lipid Droplets in Schwann Cells During Tellurium Neuropathy Are Derived from Newly Synthesized Lipid

Exposure of weanling rats to a diet containing elemental tellurium results in a peripheral neuropathy characterized by segmental demyelination and minimal axonal degeneration. One of the earliest ultrastructural abnormalities in tellurium neuropathy is an increased number of cytoplasmic lipid droplets in myelinating Schwann cells. The pathogenesis of these lipid droplets was investigated using light and electron microscopic autoradiography. Nerve lipids were either "prelabeled" with [3H]acetate via in vivo intraneural injection 3 days before a 2-day exposure to tellurium, or "postlabeled" via in vivo intraneural injection or in vitro incubation with [3H]acetate following a 2-day exposure to tellurium. In the prelabeled nerves, myelin became heavily labeled, but the tellurium-induced cytoplasmic lipid droplets were rarely labeled. In the postlabeled nerves, the tellurium-induced cytoplasmic lipid droplets were the most heavily labeled structures within the nerve. These data indicate that the tellurium-induced lipid droplets in Schwann cells are derived from newly synthesized lipid rather than from the early breakdown and internalization of myelin lipids. The earliest biochemical abnormality observed in tellurium neuropathy is an inhibition of cholesterol synthesis at the squalene epoxidase step. This leads to an accumulation of squalene within the nerve. We conclude that the cytoplasmic lipid droplets in Schwann cells contain this accumulated lipid.     

Formation of Tellurium Nanocrystals during Anaerobic Growth of Bacteria That Use Te Oxyanions as Respiratory Electron Acceptors

Certain toxic elements support the metabolism of diverse prokaryotes by serving as respiratory electron acceptors for growth. Here, we demonstrate that two anaerobes previously shown to be capable of respiring oxyanions of selenium also achieve growth by reduction of either tellurate [Te(VI)] or tellurite [Te(IV)] to elemental tellurium [Te(0)]. This reduction achieves a sizeable stable-Te-isotopic fractionation (isotopic enrichment factor [] = −0.4 to −1.0 per ml per atomic mass unit) and results in the formation of unique crystalline Te(0) nanoarchitectures as end products. The Te(0) crystals occur internally within but mainly externally from the cells, and each microorganism forms a distinctly different structure. Those formed by Bacillus selenitireducens initially are nanorods (~10-nm diameter by 200-nm length), which cluster together, forming larger (~1,000-nm) rosettes composed of numerous individual shards (~100-nm width by 1,000-nm length). In contrast, Sulfurospirillum barnesii forms extremely small, irregularly shaped nanospheres (diameter < 50 nm) that coalesce into larger composite aggregates. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and selected area electron diffraction indicate that both biominerals are composed entirely of Te and are crystalline, while Raman spectroscopy confirms that they are in the elemental state. These Te biominerals have specific spectral signatures (UV-visible light, Raman) that also provide clues to their internal structures. The use of microorganisms to generate Te nanomaterials may be an alternative for bench-scale syntheses. Additionally, they may also generate products with unique properties unattainable by conventional physical/chemical methods.     

Tellurium and Selenium Resistance in Rhizobia and Its Potential Use for Direct Isolation of Rhizobium meliloti from Soil

Forty-eight Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium strains were screened for resistance to tellurite, selenite, and selenate. High levels of resistance to the metals were observed only in Rhizobium meliloti and Rhizobium fredii strains; the MICs were 2 to 8 mM for Te(IV), >200 mM for Se(VI), and 50 to 100 mM for Se(IV). Incorporation of Se and Te into growth media permitted us to directly isolate R. meliloti strains from soil. Mutant strains of rhizobia having decreased levels of Se and Te resistance were constructed by Tn5 mutagenesis and were found to have transposon insertions in DNA fragments of different sizes. Genomic DNAs from Te^r rhizobium strains failed to hybridize with Te^r determinants from plasmids RP4, pHH1508a, and pMER610.     

Phenylethynyl-Butyltellurium Inhibits the Sulfhydryl Enzyme Na+, K+-ATPase: An Effect Dependent on the Tellurium Atom

Organotellurium compounds are known for their toxicological effects. These effects may be associated with the chemical structure of these compounds and the oxidation state of the tellurium atom. In this context, 2-phenylethynyl-butyltellurium (PEBT) inhibits the activity of the sulfhydryl enzyme, δ-aminolevulinate dehydratase. The present study investigated on the importance of the tellurium atom in the PEBT ability to oxidize mono- and dithiols of low molecular weight and sulfhydryl enzymes in vitro. PEBT, at high micromolar concentrations, oxidized dithiothreitol (DTT) and inhibited cerebral Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase activity, but did not alter the lactate dehydrogenase activity. The inhibition of cerebral Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase activity was completely restored by DTT. By contrast, 2-phenylethynyl-butyl, a molecule without the tellurium atom, neither oxidized DTT nor altered the Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase activity. In conclusion, the tellurium atom of PEBT is crucial for the catalytic oxidation of sulfhydryl groups from thiols of low molecular weight and from Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase.     

Multifunctional Activity of a Small Tellurium Redox Immunomodulator Compound,AS101, on Dextran Sodium Sulfate-induced Murine Colitis

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are a group of idiopathic, chronic immune-mediated diseases characterized by an aberrant immune response, including imbalances of inflammatory cytokine production and activated innate and adaptive immunity. Selective blockade of leukocyte migration into the gut is a promising strategy for the treatment of IBD. This study explored the effect of the immunomodulating tellurium compound ammonium trichloro (dioxoethylene-o,o′) tellurate (AS101) on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced murine colitis. Both oral and intraperitoneal administration of AS101 significantly reduced clinical manifestations of IBD. Colonic inflammatory cytokine levels (IL-17 and IL-1β) were significantly down-regulated by AS101 treatment, whereas IFN-γ was not affected. Neutrophil and α4β7⁺ macrophage migration into the tissue was inhibited by AS101 treatment. Adhesion of mesenteric lymph node cells to mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule (MAdCAM-1), the ligand for α4β7 integrin, was blocked by AS101 treatment both in vitro and in vivo. DSS-induced destruction of colonic epithelial barrier/integrity was prevented by AS101, via up-regulation of colonic glial-derived neurotrophic factor, which was found previously to regulate the intestinal epithelial barrier through activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway. Indeed, the up-regulation of glial-derived neurotrophic factor by AS101 was associated with increased levels of colonic pAKT and BCL-2 and decreased levels of BAX. Furthermore, AS101 treatment reduced colonic permeability to Evans blue and decreased colonic TUNEL⁺ cells. Our data revealed multifunctional activities of AS101 in the DSS-induced colitis model via anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties. We suggest that treatment with the small, nontoxic molecule AS101 may be an effective early therapeutic approach for controlling human IBD.     

Pyridine-2,6-Bis(Thiocarboxylic Acid) Produced by Pseudomonas stutzeri KC Reduces and Precipitates Selenium and Tellurium Oxyanions

The siderophore of Pseudomonas stutzeri KC, pyridine-2,6-bis(thiocarboxylic acid) (pdtc), is shown to detoxify selenium and tellurium oxyanions in bacterial cultures. A mechanism for pdtc's detoxification of tellurite and selenite is proposed. The mechanism is based upon determination using mass spectrometry and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry of the chemical structures of compounds formed during initial reactions of tellurite and selenite with pdtc. Selenite and tellurite are reduced by pdtc or its hydrolysis product H₂S, forming zero-valent pdtc selenides and pdtc tellurides that precipitate from solution. These insoluble compounds then hydrolyze, releasing nanometer-sized particles of elemental selenium or tellurium. Electron microscopy studies showed both extracellular precipitation and internal deposition of these metalloids by bacterial cells. The precipitates formed with synthetic pdtc were similar to those formed in pdtc-producing cultures of P. stutzeri KC. Culture filtrates of P. stutzeri KC containing pdtc were also active in removing selenite and precipitating elemental selenium and tellurium. The pdtc-producing wild-type strain KC conferred higher tolerance against selenite and tellurite toxicity than a pdtc-negative mutant strain, CTN1. These observations support the hypothesis that pdtc not only functions as a siderophore but also is involved in an initial line of defense against toxicity from various metals and metalloids.     

Tellurium Blocks Cholesterol Synthesis by Inhibiting Squalene Metabolism: Preferential Vulnerability to This Metabolic Block Leads to Peripheral Nervous System Demyelination

Inclusion of 1.1% elemental tellurium in the diet of postweanling rats produces a peripheral neuropathy due to a highly synchronous primary demyelination of sciatic nerve; this demyelination is followed closely by remyelination. Sciatic nerves from animals fed tellurium for various times were removed and incubated ex vivo for 1 h with [14C]acetate, and radioactivity incorporated into individual lipid classes was determined. In nerves from rats exposed to tellurium, there was a profound and selective block in the conversion of radioactive acetate to cholesterol. Another radioactive precursor, [3H]water, gave similar results. We suggest that tellurium feeding inhibits squalene epoxidase activity and that the consequent lack of cholesterol destabilizes myelin, thereby causing destruction of the larger internodes. Ex vivo incubation experiments were also carried out with liver slices. As with nerve, tellurium feeding caused accumulation in squalene of label from radioactive acetate, whereas labeling of cholesterol was greatly inhibited. Unexpectedly, however, incorporation of label from [3H]water into both squalene and cholesterol was increased. Relevant is the demonstration that liver was the primary site of bulk accumulation of squalene, which accounted for 10% of liver dry weight at 5 days. Thus, accumulation of squalene (and other mechanisms, possibly including up-regulation of cholesterol biosynthetic pathways) drives squalene epoxidase activity at normal levels in liver even in the presence of inhibitors of this enzyme. This is reflected by continuing incorporation of [3H]water into cholesterol; incorporation of this precursor takes place at many of the postsqualene biosynthetic steps for sterol formation. [14C]Acetate entering the sterol pathway before squalene in liver is greatly diluted in specific activity when it reaches the large squalene pool, and thus increased squalene epoxidase activity does not transfer significant 14C label to sterols. In contrast to the situation with liver, synthesis of sterols is markedly depressed in sciatic nerve, and squalene does not accumulate to high levels.     

硒和碲对缓解糜子镉毒害及减少籽粒镉积累的调控效应

提高糜子(Panicum miliaceum)镉耐受性与低积累能力对镉污染地区糜子的安全生产具有重要意义。该研究以镉耐受和镉敏感糜子品种为材料,通过苗期水培和全生育期盆栽试验,分析不同形态硒和四价碲对镉胁迫下糜子生长、根系形态、镉吸收转运和籽粒矿质营养含量的影响。结果表明,外源添加硒和碲能缓解镉毒害,其中有机硒缓解效果较好。与单独镉处理相比,硒和碲能够促进根系直径增加并抑制镉吸收,最高可使根系镉含量降低33%。此外,硒和碲能够增加细胞壁和液泡中镉的占比,提高镉耐受性。叶面喷施硒提高了糜子籽粒中锌、锰和钼等矿质营养元素含量。无机四价硒能更有效地抑制镉从营养器官向籽粒的转运,在5mg·kg^–1镉处理下,可使镉敏感和镉耐受品种籽粒镉含量分别降低11.3%和20.3%。综上,外源添加硒能够显著提高糜子镉耐受性并减少籽粒镉积累。研究结果可为镉污染地区糜子的安全生产提供参考。     

Evaluation of the Content of Antimony,Arsenic, Bismuth,Selenium, Tellurium and Their Inorganic Forms in Commercially Baby Foods

The purpose of the investigation is to reveal the influence of dietary calcium on fluorosis-induced brain cell apoptosis in rat offspring, as well as the underlying molecular mechanism. Sprague–Dawley (SD) female rats were randomly divided into five groups: control group, fluoride group, low calcium, low calcium fluoride group, and high calcium fluoride group. SD male rats were used for breeding only. After 3 months, male and female rats were mated in a 1:1 ratio. Subsequently, 18-day-old gestation rats and 14- and 28-day-old rats were used as experimental subjects. We determined the blood/urine fluoride, the blood/urine calcium, the apoptosis in the hippocampus, and the expression levels of apoptosis-related genes, namely Bcl-2, caspase 12, and JNK. Blood or blood/urine fluoride levels and apoptotic cells were found significantly increased in fluorosis rat offspring as compared to controls. Furthermore, the Bcl-2 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels significantly decreased, and caspase 12 mRNA levels significantly increased in each age group as compared to controls. Compared with the fluoride group, the blood/urine fluoride content and apoptotic cells evidently decreased in the high calcium fluoride group, Bcl-2 mRNA expression significantly increased and caspase 12 mRNA expression significantly decreased in each age group. All results showed no gender difference. Based on these results, the molecular mechanisms of fluorosis-induced brain cell apoptosis in rat offspring may include the decrease in Bcl-2 mRNA expression level and increase in caspase 12 mRNA expression signaling pathways. High calcium intake could reverse these gene expression trends. By contrast, low calcium intake intensified the toxic effects of fluoride on brain cells.