Atomic energy of Canada Limited

A method is described for determining stable cobalt concentrations in natural lake waters using polarized Zeeman effect graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The analysis requires small sample volumes, minimal sample pretreatment and preparation and no chelation or solvent extraction procedures. Instrument linearity, per cent cobalt recovery, matrix interferences and the use of the standard additions method are discussed. The increased sensitivity and precision due to Zeeman AA background correction permits precise determination of stable cobalt in the µg.1^–1 range.AECL 8351 reprintAECL 8351 reprint     

Bifunctional Conducting Polymer Coated CoP Core–Shell Nanowires on Carbon Paper as a Free‐Standing Anode for Sodium Ion Batteries

This study proposes a conformal surface coating of conducting polymer for protecting 1D nanostructured electrode material, thereby enabling a free‐standing electrode without binder for sodium ion batteries. Here, polypyrrole (PPy), which is one of the representative conducting polymers, encapsulated cobalt phosphide (CoP) nanowires (NWs) grown on carbon paper (CP), finally realizes 1D core–shell CoP@PPy NWs/CP. The CoP core is connected to the PPy shell via strong chemical bonding, which can maintain a Co–PPy framework during charge/discharge. It also possesses bifunctional features that enhances the charge transfer and buffers the volume expansion. Consequently, 1D core–shell CoP@PPy NWs/CP demonstrates superb electrochemical performance, delivering a high areal capacity of 0.521 mA h cm^?2 at 0.15 mA cm^?2 after 100 cycles, and 0.443 mA h cm^?2 at 1.5 mA cm^?2 even after 1000 cycles. Even at a high current density of 3 mA cm^?2, a significant areal discharge capacity reaching 0.285 mA h cm^?2 is still maintained. The outstanding performance of the CoP@PPy NWs/CP free‐standing anode provides not only a novel insight into the modulated volume expansion of anode materials but also one of the most effective strategies for binder‐free and free‐standing electrodes with decent mechanical endurance for future secondary batteries.     

Germination of dormant seeds ofStylosanthes humilis as related to heavy metal ions

Cadmium, copper and zinc ions at high concentrations partially released scarified freshly-harvested seeds ofStylosanthes humilis from physiological dormancy. This response to toxic metals increased along with seed postharvest ageing. Cobalt and silver ions, and abscisic acid impaired metal-promoted germination. CAPES, CNPq, FAPEMIG and FINEP are gratefully acknowledged for the financial support granted for the conduction of this work.     

Effects of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) on the dark-induced senescence in oat (Avena sativa L.) leaf segments

To investigate the relationship between methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and ethylene in leaf senescence, we studied the effects of MeJA on ethylene production and ethylene biosynthetic enzyme activities in oat(Avena sativa L.) leaf segments incubated in darkness. MeJA promoted dark-induced senescence judged from the contents of chlorophyll and protein, and increased ethylene production 6 times of the control. MeJA also increased the activities of ethylene biosynthetic enzymes, 1-aminocyclopropane carboxylic acid (ACC) synthase and ACC oxidase as compared to control. In MeJA-treated leaf segments, ACC synthase activity reached its maximum level at 24 h of incubation and ACC oxidase activity peaked at 6 h of incubation. Aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) and Co²⁺, inhibitors of ACC synthase and ACC oxidase respectively, reduced MeJA-induced ethylene production. They also delayed leaf senescence that was promoted by the treatment of MeJA. From these results, we can suggest that MeJA increased the activities of ACC synthase and ACC oxidase, these increased activities lead to increase in ethylene production and this increased ethylene production might promote dark-induced leaf senescence.     

Cobalt ions enhance light responsiveness of carp cone horizontal cells in low calcium

Effects of cobalt ions (Co2+) on horizontal cells in low extracellular calcium were examined in isolated, superfused carp retinas. While 0.1mmol/L Co2+ completely suppressed both rod- and cone-driven horizontal cells in normal Ringer's solution, it enhanced light responses of cone horizontal cells in low (0.1mmol/L) calcium. The enhancement of the cone horizontal cell response by Co2+ was not caused by changes in light responsiveness of cone photoreceptors. Moreover, application of 50μmol/L IBMX, an inhibitor of phosphodiester enzyme, reduced the suppressive effect of 0.1 mmol/L Co2+ in normal Ringer's solution. In consequence, the above-described enhancement of the cone horizontal cell light responsiveness may be due to a depolarization of cones caused by low calcium, which increases the activity of voltage-dependent calcium channels at cone terminals.     

Selective suppression of rod signal transmission by cobalt ions of low levels in carp retina

Selective suppression of rod signal transmission by cobalt ions was reported in carp retina. Using 10 μnol/L Co²⁺, rod-driven horizontal cells were hyperpolarized and light responses were completely suppressed in superfused, isolated retina, while cone-driven horizontal cells were almost unaffected. Similarly, scotopic electroretinographic bwave was suppressed by 10 μnol/L Co²⁺, while the photopic b-wave remained unaffected. Furthermore, the glutamate-isolated receptor potential (PIII) was not altered by low Co²⁺ under dark-adapted conditions. Other divalent ions with high affinity to calcium channels, such as cadmium and manganese ions, did not show similar suppressive effect on the rod horizontal cells. When rod horizontal cells were hyperpolarized by 10 μnol/L Co²⁺, the use of 3 mmol/L glutamate caused a significant depolarization of the cells, indicating that Co²⁺ application did not impair the ability of these cells to respond to glutamate. On the other hand, application of 200 μnol/L β-hydroxyaspartate, a glutamate transport blocker, mimicked the effect of low Co²⁺, suggesting a possibility that the low Co²⁺ effect might be related to a blockade of glutamate uptake by rods. Project supported by the State Commission of Science and Technology of China, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the National Eye Institute, the Human Frontier Science Program.     

Metabolism-independent binding of toxic metals by Ulva lactuca: cadmium binds to oxygen-containing groups, as determined by NMR

The metabolism-independent metal binding characteristics of Ulva lactuca were investigated using both freeze-dried thalli and cell walls stripped of intracellular material by incubation in Triton-X followed by methanol. Biosorption of Cd, Zn, Cu and Co by freeze-dried thallus was concentration-dependent and followed Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms. The Freundlich plot suggested that freeze-dried U. lactuca had the greatest binding affinity for Cu compared with Cd, Zn and Co. The BET (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller) plot, which indicates a more complex form of adsorption, and the Scatchard plot were not adequate models for Cu adsorption. The Scatchard plot of Cd suggested that two Cd binding sites were available on the freeze-dried thallus, with the second, lower affinity site only becoming available at Cd loading capacities greater than 4.9mmol g dry wt. Cd nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies confirmed that two binding sites were available for Cd on the freeze-dried algal powder, though only one was available on the cell wall, and that the affinity of the binding sites was greater for Cu than for Cd. The results of the NMR experiments suggested that Cd binds to oxygen-containing functional groups in the algal powder and on the cell wall. It is proposed that sulphate or hydroxyl groups attached to polysaccharide subunits are possible sites.     

Putative role of ethylene in Datura metel microspore embryogenesis

The role of ethylene in microspore embryogenesis was analyzed by studying the effect of cobalt ions, silver ions, methionine and Ethrel on the androgenic response of in vitro cultured anthers of Datura metel L. Cobalt and silver ions, provided in the form of cobalt chloride and silver nitrate, respectively, decreased the average number of embryos/plantlets developed per anther, at all the concentrations tested. In contrast, methionine (10⁻⁵–10⁻³ M ) and Ethrel (10⁻⁶ and 10⁻⁵ M ) stimulated embryo formation. The optimal enhancement was recorded at 10⁻⁵ M of both methionine and Ethrel.