On the meaning of enzymatic superactivity in reverse micelles

Summary Two types of superactivity can be defined. One, is with respect to the activity for a fixed average substrate concentration in the water pool; the pushing of the charged substrate by the likewise charged micellar surface is responsible for the superactivity and its bell-shaped dependence on the hydration ratio. The other, is with respect to the activity in a bulk aqueous solution having a substrate concentration equal to a fixed overall concentration [S^–]_ov in the entire reverse micellar solution. In this case, the pushing effect, the constraint of a fixed [S^–]_ov and the partitioning of the substrate in the surfactant layer are responsible for the bell-shaped dependence. Superactivity exists for low substrate partitioning in the surfactant layer, subactivity for high partitioning.     

Reactivity of trypsin in reverse micelles: pH-effects on the W0 versus enzyme activity profiles

pH-Dependence of hydrolytic activity of trypsin has been studied in cationic reverse micellar system of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) in (50% v/v) chloroform/isooctane using a positively charged substrate N_α-benzoyl-L-arginine ethyl ester (BAEE). The pH of the medium was varied from 4.0 to 8.5 with addition of 0.025 M citrate-phosphate buffer containing 1 mM CaCl₂. Optimum pH for maximum enzyme activity, pH_opt in reverse micelles is found to be similar to that observed in bulk aqueous solution (8.0–8.5). However, changes in activity of trypsin (k_cat) as a function of water content W₀ (W₀ = [H₂O]/[CTAB]) in reverse micelles are found to be pH dependent. At low pH (4.0) and low water content (W₀ = 5) the enzyme is more active in reverse micelles than in bulk aqueous solution by a factor of 2. This ‘superactivity’ is lost at higher W₀ values and the k_cat in reverse micelles is found to be similar to that observed in aqueous bulk. At pH 5, the enzyme activity is found to be independent of W₀ while at pH 6.0–6.5 the enzyme activity is low at W₀ 5 and increases with water content to a constant value which is still 50% lower than that in aqueous buffer. Above pH 7, the W_o-activity profile becomes distinctly bell shaped with W₀ optimum around 10–15. The enzyme activity at optimum W₀ is close to that observed in aqueous bulk.     

基于容器分区处理探究黑麦草生长对喀斯特不同土壤生境和水分的响应

为了探究不同水分条件下喀斯特地区分布不均、厚薄不一土壤小生境对禾本科草本植物生长的影响,用3种不同深度的容器(对照深度CK,深土D和浅土S)两两组合为6种复合容器(CK-CK、CK-S、CK-D、D-D、S-D和S-S)以实现容器分区,研究了黑麦草的根系生长、生物量积累及其分配特征。结果表明:1)在水分充足(W_0)条件下,组合了浅土容器和深土容器的处理中,黑麦草的根系生长(根长、根直径、根表面积和根生物量)均低于对照容器(CK-CK),且有浅土容器的组合处理(S-S,S-D,CK-S)受抑制程度大于有深土容器的组合处理(CK-D,D-D);当水分含量降低后,即中水(W_1)和低水(W_2)条件下,有深土容器的组合[D-D和(或)CK-D]根系生长与对照相比显著增加,而有浅土容器的组合[S-S和(或)CK-S]根系生长与对照相比显著降低。2)对比同一处理不同容器分区中黑麦草生长指标发现,在水分充足情况下,深土容器和浅土容器均会抑制植物生长,而当水分减少,S区根系生长被严重抑制,但D区根系增长优势明显。3)水分充足条件下,根冠比未受到显著影响;当水分降低时,组合了深土容器的处理根冠比均有升高的趋势,组合了浅土容器的处理根冠比有降低趋势。由此可见,不同土壤生境带来的物理空间限制会影响植物根系生长和生物量积累与分配,但水分的减少会改变根系生长及生物量积累对不同土壤生境的响应:在水分充足时,土壤物理空间是影响根系生长和生物量积累与分配的主要因子,黑麦草主要发展浅层根系。而当水分减少时,黑麦草根系在浅层土壤中无法获取供给生长代谢活动的足量水分,更倾向于将有限的有机物分配给根,通过根系伸长、表面积和体积增大、直径增粗等策略加强水分吸收,从而增强对干旱的抗逆性,提高对土壤和水分异质性的适应。     

Photosynthesis and biomass allocation of cotton as affected by deep-layer water and fertilizer application depth

Available water stored in deep soil layers could increase the photosynthetic capacity of cotton. It was hypothesized that the photosynthesis of cotton would be enhanced by changing the fertilizer application depth under different deep-layer water conditions. We examined two deep-layer water levels, i.e., well-watered (W₈₀) and not watered (W₀), combined with surface application (F₁₀) and deep application (F₃₀) of basal fertilizer. Compared to W₀, W₈₀ resulted in increased leaf area (LA), photosynthetic pigment contents, maximal PSII efficiency (F_v/F_m), effective quantum yield of PSII (Y_II) and PSI (Y_I), electron transport rate of PSII (ETR_II) and PSI (ETR_I). W₈₀ also increased the aboveground and root dry mass by 39 and 0.6%, respectively, and decreased the root/shoot ratio by 40–73%. Under the W₀ condition, higher values of F_v/F_m, Y_II, Y_I, ETR_II, and ETR_I were measured for F₁₀ compared to F₃₀ after 69 d from emergence. Under the W₈₀ condition, cotton plants with F₁₀ showed higher LA, F_v/F_m, Y_II, Y_I, ETR_II, and ETR_I, but there were no significant differences in the photosynthetic pigments compared to F₃₀. Our results suggest that sufficient water in deeper soil layers and the surface application of basal fertilizer could increase photosynthetic activity and efficiency, which promoted aboveground dry mass accumulation and partitioning towards reproductive organs.     

根域限制下水氮供应对膜下滴灌棉花根系及叶片衰老特性的影响

在新疆的气候生态条件下, 选用北疆2个棉花(Gossypium hirsutum)主栽品种‘新陆早13号’和‘新陆早33号’为供试材料, 设置限根(RR)与对照(CK)处理, 每个处理设置4个水氮水平: 水氮亏缺(W₀N₀)、水分亏缺(W₀N₁)、氮素亏缺(W₁N₀)与水氮适量(W₁N₁), 组成再裂区试验方案。采用管栽方法, 通过人工改变根系垂直生长深度和水氮供应, 在棉花产量形成期测定根系及叶片抗氧化保护酶系活性、生物量累积及分配等, 探讨根域限制及水氮供应对棉花根系生长及叶片衰老的影响机理。结果表明: 根域限制条件下, 棉花根系生物量、根系与叶片超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)与过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性、棉株总生物量、根冠比均低于对照, 而地上部生物量与籽棉产量显著高于对照。水氮供应能有效地调节根系及叶片的生长, 不同水氮处理间棉花根系与叶片抗氧化保护酶系活性、叶绿素含量、地上部生物量及籽棉产量均表现为W₁N₁ > W₀N₁ > W₁N₀ > W₀N₀, 根冠比与根系生物量的表现与之相反。根域限制与水氮供应表现出互作优势, 根域限制下适量水氮供应处理的地上部生物量与籽棉产量均明显高于其他处理, 根冠比较低。因此, 在棉花根系生长受限的条件下, 优化生育期间水氮供应, 可以增强根系及叶片的抗氧化保护酶系活性、增加光合产物向地上部的分配比例、增加产量, 是进一步挖掘膜下滴灌棉花增产潜力的有效途径。     

Hydrophobic hydration processes thermal and chemical denaturation of proteins

The hydrophobic hydration processes have been analysed under the light of a mixture model of water that is assumed to be composed by clusters (W₅)_I, clusters (W₄)_II and free water molecules W_III. The hydrophobic hydration processes can be subdivided into two Classes A and B. In the processes of Class A, the transformation A(− ξ_wW_I → ξ_wW_II + ξ_wW_III + cavity) takes place, with expulsion from the bulk of ξ_w water molecules W_III, whereas in the processes of Class B the opposite transformation B(− ξ_wW_III − ξ_wW_II → ξ_wW_I − cavity) takes place, with condensation into the bulk of ξ_w water molecules W_III. The thermal equivalent dilution (TED) principle is exploited to determine the number ξ_w. The denaturation (unfolding) process belongs to Class A whereas folding (or renaturation) belongs to Class B. The enthalpy ΔH_den and entropy ΔS_den functions can be disaggregated in thermal and motive components, ΔH_den = ΔH_therm + ΔH_mot, and ΔS_den = ΔS_therm + ΔS_mot, respectively. The terms ΔH_therm and ΔS_therm are related to phase change of water molecules W_III, and give no contribution to free energy (ΔG_therm = 0). The motive functions refer to the process of cavity formation (Class A) or cavity reduction (Class B), respectively and are the only contributors to free energy ΔG_mot. The folded native protein is thermodynamically favoured (ΔG_fold ≡ ΔG_mot < 0) because of the outstanding contribution of the positive entropy term for cavity reduction, ΔS_red ? 0. The native protein can be brought to a stable denatured state (ΔG_den ≡ ΔG_mot < 0) by coupled reactions. Processes of protonation coupled to denaturation have been identified. In thermal denaturation by calorimetry, however, is the heat gradually supplied to the system that yields a change of phase of water W_III, with creation of cavity and negative entropy production, ΔS_for ? 0. The negative entropy change reduces and at last neutralises the positive entropy of folding. In molecular terms, this means the gradual disruption by cavity formation of the entropy-driven hydrophobic bonds that had been keeping the chains folded in the native protein. The action of the chemical denaturants is similar to that of heat, by modulating the equilibrium between W_I, W_II, and W_III toward cavity formation and negative entropy production. The salting-in effect produced by denaturants has been recognised as a hydrophobic hydration process belonging to Class A with cavity formation, whereas the salting-out effect produced by stabilisers belongs to Class B with cavity reduction.Some algorithms of denaturation thermodynamics are presented in the Appendices.     

Synthesis and evaluation of pyridinium polyoxometalates as anti-HIV-1 agents

The unique properties of polyoxometalates, such as molecular polarity, redox potential, surface charge distribution, shape and acidity, influence their response of recognition to targeted biological macromolecules. By using PM-19 (K₇PTi₂W₁₀O₄₀) as a lead-compound, a series of novel pyridinium polyoxometalates (A₇PTi₂W₁₀O₄₀), which hadn’t been reported in literatures, were designed and synthesized. The evaluation was conducted using the single-cycle pseudovirus infection assay (TZM-bl assay), CCK-8 method was used for determining the cytotoxicity. The results indicated that the designed pyridinium polyoxometalates had a lower toxicity to TZM-bl cells, and showed higher inhibitory activity against HIV-1 virus.     

α-Chymotrypsin superactivity in aqueous solutions of cationic surfactants

α-Chymotrypsin (α-CT) activity was tested in aqueous media with the following cetyltrialkylammonium bromide surfactants in the series methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl, different in the head group size, and for the sake of comparison also with the anionic sodium n-dodecyl sulfate and the zwitterionic myristyldimethylammonium propanesulfonate. N-glutaryl-l-phenylalanine p-nitroanilide hydrolysis rate was monitored at surfactant concentration above the critical micellar one. Only some cationic surfactants gave superactivity and the head group size had a major weight. The highest superactivity was measured in the presence of cetyltributylammonium bromide. The effect of both nature and concentration of three different buffers was also investigated. There is a dependence of enzyme superactivity on buffer type. Michaelis–Menten kinetics were found. The binding constants of substrate with micellar aggregates were determined in the used buffers and the effective improvement of reaction rate (at the same free substrate concentration in the medium) was calculated. k_cat significantly increased while K_m was little changed after correction to free substrate concentration. The ratio of k_cat to K_m was between 12 and 35 times higher than in pure buffer, depending on buffer and surfactant concentrations. The increase of α-CT activity (30%) was less important in the presence of 1×10⁻² M tetrabutylammonium bromide, a very hydrophobic salt, unable to micellise. Fluorescence spectra showed differences of enzyme conformation in the presence of various surfactants.     

Fast Proton Insertion in Layered H2W2O7 via Selective Etching of an Aurivillius Phase

H₂W₂O₇, a metastable material synthesized via selective etching of the Aurivillius-related Bi₂W₂O₉, is demonstrated as an electrode for high power proton-based energy storage. Comprehensive structural characterization is performed to obtain a high-fidelity crystal structure of H₂W₂O₇ using an iterative approach that combines X-ray diffraction, neutron pair distribution function, scanning transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and density functional theory modeling. Electrochemical characterization shows a capacity retention of ≈80% at 1000 mV s^–1 (1.5-s charge/discharge time) as compared to 1 mV s^–1 (≈16-min charge/discharge time) with cyclability for over 100 000 cycles. Energetics from density functional theory calculations indicate that proton storage occurs at the terminal oxygen sites within the hydrated interlayer. Last, optical micrographs collected during in situ Raman spectroscopy show reversible, multicolor electrochromism, with color changes from pale yellow to blue, purple, and last, orange as a function of proton content. These results highlight the use of selective etching of layered perovskites for the synthesis of metastable transition metal oxide materials and the use of H₂W₂O₇ as an anode material for proton-based energy storage or electrochromic applications.     

Allocation of Matter in the Body of Growing Toads,Bufo bufo: Components of ‘Condition’

The condition, CI = [body mass (g)/length (cm)³]-1000, tends to increase in toads growing in the laboratory on a diet of meal-worms. The allocation was therefore studied of ingested food to growth corresponding to maintenance of standard condition (ΔW_S) and to increases in condition, expressing bulky growth. A condition index of 100, typical of toad populations, is chosen to characterize standard growth, higher values expressing bulky growth. The relationship between mass specific standard growth (ΔW_s/W₀) and actual growth in mass (ΔW/W₀) was the same in controls and growth hormone-treated toads and was independent of sex and season. It could be described by the allometric equation ΔW_s/W₀ = 0.28 (ΔW/W₀)^1.36, r = 0.93. The composition of mass representing increases in bulk in excess of a CI = 100 was assessed from allometric relationships established between the indices of the chemical constituents and the overall condition index. The increases in condition were partitioned among the organs and parts of the body from allometric relationships established between indices of organs and body parts and the overall condition index. Treatment with growth hormone enhanced growth in mass and significantly increased the relative proportion of mass allocated to standard growth. However, the effect was not specific to growth hormone, but was an indirect effect of the increased growth rate. Water was the predominant constituent of the growth in bulk, amounting to about 70% of increases in CI. Fat and protein contributed about equally initially, 5–10%, with fat strongly increasing and protein slightly decreasing with increasing condition, fat to approach 20–30% when CI approached 200. Increases in water content largely reflected increases in volume of blood and lymph.     

Hydrophobic hydration processes: General thermodynamic model by thermal equivalent dilution determinations

The “hydrophobic hydration processes” can be satisfactorily interpreted on the basis of a common molecular model for water, consisting of two types of clusters, namely W_I and W_II accompanied by free molecules W_III. The principle of thermal equivalent dilution (TED) is the potent tool (Ergodic Hypothesis) employed to monitor the water equilibrium and to determine the number ξ_w of water molecules W_III involved in each process. The hydrophobic hydration processes can be subdivided into two Classes: Class A includes those processes for which the transformation A(−ξ_wW_I → ξ_wW_II + ξ_wW_III + cavity) takes place with the formation of a cavity, by expulsion of ξ_w water molecules W_III whereas Class B includes those processes for which the opposite transformation B(−ξ_wW_II − ξ_wW_III → ξ_wW_I − cavity) takes place with reduction of the cavity, by condensation of ξ_w water molecules W_III. The number ξ_w depends on the size of the reactants and measures the extent of the change in volume of the cavity. Disaggregating the thermodynamic functions ΔH_app and ΔS_app as the functions of T (or lnT) and ξ_w has enabled the separation of the thermodynamic functions into work and thermal components. The work functions ΔG_Work, ΔH_Work and ΔS_Work only refer specifically to the hydrophobic effects of cavity formation or cavity reduction, respectively. The constant self-consistent unitary (ξ_w = 1) work functions obtained from both large and small molecules indicate that the same unitary reaction is taking place, independent from the reactant size. The thermal functions ΔH_Th and ΔS_Th refer exclusively to the passage of state of water W_III.Essential mathematical algorithms are presented in the appendices.     

Moisture adsorption capacity and surface area as deduced from vapour pressure isotherms in relation to hygroscopic water of soils

Six calcareous and alluvial soil profiles differing in their texture, CaCO₃ and salinity were chosen from west and middle Nile Delta for the present study. The 1^st and 2^nd profiles from Borg El-Arab area were sandy loam in texture and > 30% CaCO₃, while the 3^rd and 4^th profiles (from Nubaria area) were sandy clay loam and < 30% CaCO₃. The 2^nd and 4^th profiles were taken from cultivated area with maize. The 5^th profile from Epshan area was non-saline clay alluvial soil and the 6^th from El-Khamsen was saline clay alluvial soil. The relation between soil moisture content (W%) and water vapour pressure (P/P _o) was established for the mentioned soils. Data showed that the specific surface area (S) values were 34–53 and 44–60 m²/g for calcareous soils of Borg El-Arab and Nubaria areas, 206–219 and 206–249 m²/g for non-saline and saline clay alluvial soils of Epshan and El-Khamsen areas, respectively. The corresponding values of the external specific surface area (S _e) were 16–21, 14–22, 72–86 and 92–112 m²/g. Submitting W _m+W _me as an adsorption boundary of moisture films (W _c) (where W _m is mono-adsorbed layer of water vapour on soil particles and W _me is the external mono-adsorbed layer), the maximum water adsorption capacity (W _a) was found to be W _c + W _me or W _m + 2W _me. It was ranged from 1.88 to 2.70%, 1.97 to 2.95%, 9.70–10.70% and 10.80 to 13.12% while the maximum hygroscopic water (M _H) values were 2.43–3.78%, 2.91–4.65%, 16–17% and 18.30–21.9% for the studied soil profiles respectively. The residual moisture content (θ _r) at pF 7 and P/P _o = 0 was ranged from 0.0005–0.0010%, 0.0007–0.0019% and 0.0043–0.0048% in Borg El-Arab, Nubaria and Epshan soil profiles, respectively. The inter-relations between the surface area and the hygroscopic moisture parameters of the soils under investigation were as follows Calcareous soils; W _m = 0.40 M _H, W _c = 0.55 M _H, W _a = 0.70 M _H, S = 14 M _H Non-saline soil; W _m = 0.35 M _H, W _c = 0.49 M _H, W _a = 0.63 M _H, S = 13 M _H Saline soil; W _m = 031 M _H, W _c = 0.45 M _H, W _a = 0.59 M _H, S = 12 M _H These relations give possibility to deduce the soil moisture adsorption capacities and specific surface area via maximum hygroscopic water, which can be obtained through the experimental determination of water vapor adsorption isotherms.     

Biomass Partitioning and Gas Exchange in Dalbergia sissoo seedlings under water stress

Biomass, leaf water potential (_l), net photosynthetic rate (P _N), transpiration rate (E), stomatal conductance (g _s), leaf to air temperature difference (T _diff), and instantaneous water use efficiency (WUE) were measured in the seedlings of Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. grown under irrigation of 20 (W₁), 14 (W₂), 10 (W₃), and 8 (W₄) mm. Treatments were maintained by re-irrigation when water content of the soil reached 7.4% in W₁, 5.6% in W₂, 4.3% in W₃, and 3.2% in W₄. Seedlings in a control (W₅) were left without irrigation after maintaining the soil field capacity (10.7%). Seedlings of W₁ had highest biomass that was one tenth in W₅. Biomass allocation was highest in leaf in W₂ and in root in W₄ and W₅ treatments. Difference between predawn leaf water potential (_Pd) and midday (_mid) increased with soil water stress and with vapour pressure deficit (VPD) in April and May slowing down the recovery in plant leaf water status after transpiration loss. P _N, E, and g _s declined and T _diff increased from W₁ to W₅. Their values were highly significant in April and May for the severely stressed seedlings of W₄ and W₅. P _N increased from 08:00 to 10:00 and E increased until 13:00 within the day for most of the seedlings whereas g _s decreased throughout the day from 08:00 to 17:00. P _N and E were highest in March but their values were low in January, February, April, and May. Large variations in physiological variables to air temperature, photosynthetically active radiation, and vapour pressure deficit (VPD) indicated greater sensitivity of the species to environmental factors. WUE increased from W₁ to W₂ but decreased drastically at high water stress particularly during hot summer showing a kind of adaptation in D. sissoo to water stress. However, low biomass and reduced physiological functions at <50% of soil field capacity suggest that this species does not produce significant biomass at severe soil water stress or drought of a prolonged period.     

Empirical standard mass equation for Salmo marmoratus

Total length (L_T) (range 24–1000 mm; mean ±s.e . = 170·21 ± 0·36 mm) and mass (W) (range 0·10–9590 g; mean ±s.e . = 76·03 ± 0·87 g) of 36 460 specimens of marble trout Salmo marmoratus were used to compute a standard mass (W_s) equation for this species by means of the empirical percentile (EmP) method. The EmP W_s equation calculated was: log₁₀W_s = ?5·208 + 3·202 log₁₀L_T? 0·046 (log₁₀L_T)² (L_T range 90–570 mm) and it is valid throughout the species' area of distribution across Europe.     

Effect of environmental factors on tenuazonic acid production by Alternaria alternata on soybean-based media

Aims: To determine the effects of water activity (a_W; 0·995–0·90), temperature (5, 18, 25 and 30°C), time of incubation (7–35 days) and their interactions on tenuazonic acid (TA) production on 2% soybean‐based agar by two Alternaria alternata strains isolated from soybean in Argentina. Methods and Results: TA production by two isolates of A. alternata was examined under interacting conditions of a_W, temperature and time of incubation on 2% soybean‐based agar. Maximum TA production was obtained for both strains at 0·98 a_W, but at 30 and 25°C for the strains for RC 21and RC 39, respectively. The toxin concentration varied considerably depending on a_W, temperature, incubation time and strain interactions. TA was produced over the temperature range from 5 to 30°C and a_W range from 0·92 to 0·995, however at 5 and 18°C little TA was produced at a_W below 0·94. Contour maps were developed from these data to identify areas where conditions indicate a significant risk for TA accumulation. Conclusions: The optimum and marginal conditions for TA production by A. alternata on soybean‐based agar were identified. The results indicated that TA production by A. alternata is favoured by different temperatures in different strains. Significance and Impact of the Study: Data obtained provide very useful information for predicting the possible risk factors for TA contamination of soybean as the a_W and temperature range used in this study simulate those occurring during grain ripening. The knowledge of TA production under marginal or sub‐optimal temperature and a_W conditions for growth are relevant as improper storage conditions accompanied by elevated temperature and moisture content in the grain can favour further mycotoxin production and lead to reduction in grain quality.     

Intramolecular exchange of coordinated and dangling phosphines in pentacarbonyl group 6 complexes of 1,1,2-tris(diphenylphosphino)ethane

The linkage isomers, (OC)₅M[κ¹-PPh₂ CH₂CH(PPh₂)₂] 1 and (OC)₅M[κ¹-PPh₂ CH(PPh₂)CH₂PPh₂] 2 (M = Cr, Mo and W) exist in equilibrium at room temperature. Equilibrium constants for 1Cr ? 2Cr, 1Mo ? 2Mo and 1W ? 2W at 25 °C in CDCl₃ are 2.61, 5.0 and 4.74, respectively. Enthalpy favors the forward reaction (ΔH = −13.5, −12 and −12.2 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively) while entropy favors the reverse reaction (ΔS = −37.6, −28 and −28.2 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, respectively). Isomerization is much faster than chelation with 1Mo ? 2Mo ? 1W ? 2W > 1Cr ? 2Cr. Enthalpies of activation for 1Cr ? 2Cr and 1W ? 2W are 119.0 and 92.6 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively, and entropies of activation are 1.4 and −28.2 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, respectively. Isomerization is 10⁴ times faster for these complexes than for (OC)₅M[κ¹-PPh₂CH₂CH₂P(p-tolyl)₂]. A novel mechanism is proposed to account for the rate differences. The X-ray crystal structure of 2W shows that the phosphorus atom of the short phosphine arm lies very close to a carbon atom of the W(CO)₄ equatorial plane (3.40 Å) which could allow “through-space” coupling, accounting in part for the observation of long-range J_PC and J_PW coupling. The X-ray structure of (OC)₅W[κ¹-PPh₂ C(CH₂)PPh₂] 5W has been determined for comparison to 2W.     

水分对苜蓿叶片光合特性的影响

采用田间试验, 对每茬灌水3次(W₃)、2次(W₂)、1次(W₁)和不灌水(W₀)四种条件下的土壤水分, 苜蓿(Medicago sativa)叶片的叶绿素荧光参数、气孔导度(G_s)、净光合速率(P_n)和蒸腾速率(T_r)进行测定。结果表明, 灌水提高了苜蓿叶片的原初光能转换效率(F_v/F_m)、P_n和T_r, 并随着灌水量的增加而增加。苜蓿叶片的F_v/F_m、P_n和T_r的日均值与土壤含水量均呈极显著正相关关系。苜蓿叶片的P_n与F_v/F_m和光合有效辐射(PAR)的乘积呈正相关关系。灌水还改变了苜蓿叶片P_n的日变化格局。灌水较多的处理(W₃和W₂), 苜蓿叶片没有出现光合“午休”现象,P_n的日变化趋势呈现“单峰”型。而灌水较少和不灌水的处理(W₁和W₀), 苜蓿叶片出现了明显的光合“午休”现象, 其P_n的日变化进程呈现“双峰”型。在相同的水分条件下, 初花期苜蓿叶片的P_n高于再生期的, T_r则相反。     

Age structure and multi-model growth estimation of longnose stingray Hypanus guttatus (Dasyatidae: Myliobatoidei) from north-east Brazil

We collected 729 Hypanus guttatus from the northern coast of the state of Rio Grande do Norte (RN), of which 196 were used to estimate age and growth. Ninety-five were male (12.7 to 57.0 cm disc width; W_D) and 101 were female (13.0 to 88.5 cm W_D); females were significantly larger than males. Cross sections of vertebrae showed band-pairs ranging from 0 to > 14 in females and from 0 to 9 in males. New-borns presented an opaque edge at birth in vertebrae without a birthmark. The average percentage of error (APE; %E) for the entire sample provided evidence that ages were repeatable. The mean monthly marginal increment (I_M) indicates annual band-pair formation from August to November. The annual cycle model for one band-pair deposition provided the best fit to data based on the AIC, with peaks between August and October, similar to that found in the I_M analysis, suggesting an annual formation pattern. A multi-model approach that included four models based on the observed mean W_D at age indicated a modified von Bertalanffy growth model as the best for describing the species growth: W₀ (W_D at birth) = 14.6 cm for both sexes; females W_∞ = 98.61 cm (95% CI = 87.34–114.61 cm); k = 0.112 year⁻¹ (CI = 0.086–0.148 year⁻¹); males W_∞ = 60.22 cm (CI = 55.66–65.35 cm); k = 0.219 year⁻¹ (CI = 0.185–0.276 year⁻¹). The age-at-maturity in males and females is 5 years and 7 years, respectively. The age composition shows that most (84%) specimens were aged 0 to 2 years. The information provided here is essential for analytical assessments of H. guttatus, which is subject to significant fishing pressure mainly on new-borns and juveniles.     

Efflux and Influx of Erythrocyte Water

Rabbit erythrocytes were washed in buffered NaCl solutions isotonic with rabbit serum (Δ^t -0.558°C.) and suspended in buffered NaCl solutions of tonicity equidistant from intracellular tonicity (Δ^t = -0.558°C. ± 0.112°C.) of varying pH and incubated at varying temperatures. After incubation, the freezing point depression (Δ^t) was measured on the supernatant. Change in the Δ^t measured change in the water content of the extracellular solutions—water being withdrawn by erythrocytes (W_I) from the hypotonic solutions and added (W_E) to the hypertonic solutions. W_E was always less than W_I and was inversely proportional to the pH in the range 6.5–8.0. W_E was significantly increased by lowering the temperature of the cell suspension to 4°C. W_I was increased by raising or lowering the pH or raising the temperature of the cell suspension. W_E x W_I ≠ k. W_E and W_I were affected differently by changes in pH and temperature. It was concluded that W_E and W_E were probably under different physicochemical control.     

Syntheses and crystal structures of cyano-bridged cluster-metal layered coordination polymers [Cu(dien)]3[W4Te4(CN)12] · 9H2O and [Ni(en)(NH3)]3[W4Se4(CN)12] · 7.5H2O

Two new tetrahedral tungsten cyanide cluster compounds, [Cu(dien)]₃[W₄Te₄(CN)₁₂] · 9H₂O (1) (dien=diethylenetriamine) and [Ni(en)(NH₃)]₃[W₄Se₄(CN)₁₂] · 7.5H₂O (2) (en=ethylenediamine), were synthesized by treating aqueous solutions of the saltlike cluster compound K₆[W₄Te₄(CN)₁₂] · 5H₂O/K₆[W₄Se₄(CN)₁₂] · 6H₂O with copper(II)/nickel(II) chloride in aqueous ammonia containing dien/en. The cyano-bridged layered coordination polymeric compounds were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis: monoclinic, space group P2₁ for 1; trigonal, space group for 2. Structures of 1 and 2 consist of infinite neutral layers of cluster components {W₄Te₄(CN)₁₂}/{W₄Se₄(CN)₁₂} connected, one another by {Cu(dien)} or {Ni(en)(NH₃)} fragments, respectively.