Do Gravid Black Flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) Oviposit at Their Natal Site?

We present information on an aniline dye marking method for black flies. In the laboratory, adults were sprayed with 2% aqueous solutions of four colors of aniline dyes; brilliant blue and methyl orange gave the best results in longevity trials. In field trials we were able to recapture 1.3% of newly emerged marked and released flies at oviposition sites. Mark–release–recapture experiments were designed to distinguish among three competing models concerning oviposition site selection by gravid female black flies: (1) larval site fidelity (“Do flies return to the site that they experienced as larvae?”), (2) adult site fidelity (“Do flies return to the site that they experienced as adults?”), and (3) no site fidelity (“Do flies oviposit at random, i.e., without regard to adult or larval experience?”). Models 1 and 2 were rejected. There is, however, no reason to reject Model 3, the no site fidelity model. Thus, we conclude that for members of the S. venustum/verecundum complex (i.e., S. rostratum, S. venustum, and S. truncatum) females find an “apparently suitable” waterway in which to oviposit; this may or may not be their natal site.     

Stabilization of Insoluble Discharge Products by Facile Aniline Modification for High Performance Li‐S Batteries

Continuous efforts have been made to attain high performance Li‐S batteries by preventing loss of soluble polysulfides, whereas issues related to insoluble discharge products, Li₂S₂ and Li₂S, have been underestimated. A facile and mild method, diazotization, that enables uniform functionalization on the surface of ordered mesoporous carbon (CMK‐3) with aniline functional groups while not deteriorating the original CMK‐3 microstructure is demonstrated. The aniline groups possess favorable interactions with insoluble discharge products. Thus, they homogeneously distribute the insoluble discharge products during cycling. The proposed materials exhibit outstanding electrochemical properties with regard to stability (920 mAh g^?1 at 0.2 C after 100 cycles) and rate capability (814 mAh g^?1 at 1 C) when evaluated as a cathode material for Li‐S batteries.     

Levels of protein kinase C and nitric oxide synthase activity in rats exposed to sub chronic low level lead

Previous studies from our laboratories have linked the protective abilities of IH636 grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) with inactivation of anti-apoptotic gene bcl-XL, and modification of several other critical molecular targets such as DNA-damage/DNA-repair, lipid peroxidation and intracellular Ca²⁺ homeostasis. Especially, GSPE provided dramatic protection against acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatotoxicity, significantly increased bcl-XL expression in the liver [1], and antagonized both necrotic and apoptotic deaths of liver cells in vivo. However, it was not clear from this study whether anti-apoptogenic and anti-necrotic effects of GSPE were: (i) due to its interference with endonuclease activity, (ii) due to its antioxidant effect, or, (iii) due to its ability to inhibit microsomal drug metabolizing enzyme(s), such as CYP-4502E1. Since CYP-4502E1 primarily metabolizes acetaminophen in mice and rats, this study specifically focused on CYP-4502E1's catalytic activity in vitro. Overall this investigation compared the in vitro aniline hydroxylation patterns of: (i) in vivo GSPE-exposed and unexposed (control) mouse liver microsomes, (ii) induced (1% acetone in drinking water for 3 days) and uninduced rat liver microsomes in the presence and absence of GSPE in vitro, and (iii) control rat liver microsomes in the presence of an anti-APAP agent 4-aminobenzamide (4-AB) in vitro. For the in vivo assessment, male B6C3F1 mice were fed GSPE diet (ADI 100 mg/kg body wt) for 4 weeks, and liver microsomes were isolated from both control and GSPE-fed mice for aniline hydroxylation, a specific marker of CYP-4502E1 activity. Data show that hydroxylation was 40% less in microsomes from GSPE-exposed livers compared to control microsomes. Similarly, when rat liver microsomes were incubated with various concentrations of GSPE in vitro (100 and 250 g/ml), aniline hydroxylation was inhibited to various degrees (uninduced: 40 and 60% and induced: 25 and 50%, respectively with 100 and 250 g/ml). Influence of GSPE on hydroxylation patterns were compared with another hepatoprotective agent 4-aminobenzamide (4-AB), a well-known modulator of nuclear enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, and the data shows that 4-AB did not alter aniline hydroxylation at all. Collectively, these results may suggest that GSPE has the ability to inhibit CYP-4502E1, and this is an additional cytoprotective attribute, in conjunction with its novel antioxidant and/or antiendonucleolytic potential.     

A Clearing Technique for Detecting the Fungal Endophyte Acremonium sp. in Grasses

Leaf tissue of tall fescue Festuca arundinacea Schreb., hard fescue Festuca ovina L., red fescue Festuca rubra L. and perennial ryegrass Lolium perenne L. was stained with rose Bengal or aniline blue to detect the presence of the fungal endophyte Acremonium sp., Specimens were cleared using methyl salicylate, an optical clearing agent, and viewed using bright field microscopy. Tissue was presenred as dried tissue or stored in 70% aqueous ethyl alcohol before staining and clearing. Tissue was observed at 2, 4 and 12 weeks following clearing to check for stain retention. Staining with rose Bengal was inferior to aniline blue when followed by the clearing agent methyl salicylate. Fungal mycelia stained lighter with rose Bengal and were more difficult to detect than mycelia stained with aniline blue. The results illustrate the usefulness of combining staining and methyl salicylate clearing for detecting fungal endophytes.     

Reactions of 2-(arylazo)aniline with iridium trichloride: Synthesis, characterization and structure of new cyclometallated complexes of iridium(III)

Reactions of 2-(arylazo)aniline, HL (H represents the dissociable protons upon orthometallation and HL is p-RC₆H₄NNC₆H₄-NH₂; RH for HL¹; CH₃ for HL² and Cl for HL³) with IrCl₃ in methanol afforded orthometallated complexes of composition (L)(HL)IrCl₂ (2) and (L)(MeOH)IrCl₂ (3), respectively. Complex (L)(MeOH)IrCl₂ (3) converted into (L)(CH₃CN)IrCl₂ (4) upon refluxing in acetonitrile. The X-ray structure of the complexes (L¹)(HL¹)IrCl₂ (2a) and (L³)(CH₃CN)IrCl₂ (4c) have been determined and characterized unequivocally. The anionic L⁻ binds the metal in tridentate (C, N, N) manner for all the complexes.     

降解苯胺和氯苯胺类污染物好氧污泥颗粒化及微生物种群结构分析

以序批式气提生物反应器(SABR)为平台,研究了苯胺和氯苯胺类有毒有机废水处理过程好氧污泥颗粒化。结果表明,通过缩短污泥沉降时间、逐步提升目标污染物进水负荷,反应器连续运行3个月,最终在污泥沉降时间5min、COD负荷1.0~3.6kg/(m3.d)、苯胺和氯苯胺负荷1kg/(m3.d)条件下实现污泥颗粒化,COD、苯胺和氯苯胺去除率分别稳定在90%、99.9%以上;获得的成熟好氧颗粒粒径在0.45~2.5mm,SOUR稳定在150mgDO/(gVSS·h)以上,颗粒污泥EPS中PN含量为28.0±1.9mg/gVSS,PN/PS比值为6.5mg/mg,苯胺类比降解速率达0.18g/(g·d);应用PCR-DGGE分子指纹图谱技术分析了稳定运行的颗粒化反应器内好氧污泥微生物种群结构,结果表明好氧颗粒内主要细菌分属β-Proteobacteria、γ-Proteobacteria及Flavobacteria等类群,优势菌为Pseudomonas sp.、Flavobacterium sp.;与已获得的降解氯苯胺好氧颗粒相比,苯胺存在下培养获得的好氧颗粒污泥微生物菌群结构更为丰富。     

苯胺降解菌的筛选、降解特性及其发酵优化

【背景】近年来,苯胺类化合物加重了生态环境的污染,而生物法处理苯胺类废水具有较大发展潜力与广阔的应用前景。【目的】从长期受苯胺类化合物污染的活性污泥中分离获得一株能高效降解苯胺的菌株,优化其培养基及降解条件,为苯胺生物修复提供菌株与基因资源。【方法】采用平板法从富集驯化的菌株中筛选出以苯胺为唯一碳氮源和能源的高效降解菌,通过16S rRNA基因测序鉴定菌种,利用单因素筛选实验对降解条件进行优化,通过正交试验优化培养条件。【结果】筛选到一株苯胺降解菌BA-6,经鉴定为微杆菌属(Microbacterium)。菌株BA-6对初始浓度为600mg/L苯胺的日降解率可达98%以上。其高效降解的温度范围是30–37℃,pH范围是6.5–7.5。底物利用实验表明,菌株BA-6具有降解多种苯胺类化合物的能力。发酵培养基优化实验获得一种发酵培养基,活菌量高达3.06×10¹⁰CFU/mL。【结论】苯胺降解菌BA-6对苯胺有较强的降解能力和环境调节能力,在修复苯胺类化合物的生态污染方面有一定的应用前景。     

Inhibitory and excitatory effects of iodobenzene on the antennal benzoic acid receptor cells of the female silk moth Bombyx mori L

As shown in single-sensillum recordings, iodobenzene has a bimodal effect on the receptor cell tuned to benzoic acid (BA) of the female silk moth Bombyx mori. Exposure to iodobenzene causes an inhibition of the response to BA. With stimulation by iodobenzene alone, a reduction of basic nerve impulse firing during exposure is followed by a transient post-stimulus excitation (rebound). We suggest that inhibition suppresses excitation during exposure but fades afterwards more rapidly than excitation. Due to the spatial equivalence of the iodine and the acid residue, these effects might indicate opposing interactions of iodobenzene with the specific site for the key compound BA. This is supported by the fact that substitutions by smaller halogens are less effective in both inhibition and rebound. The inhibitory effect but not the rebound with iodobenzene alone was also observed in receptor cells tuned to key compounds other than benzoic acid, e.g. in the cell most sensitive to 2,6-dimethyl-5-heptene-2-ol (DMH-cell) occurring in the same sensillum as the BA-cell, or in the bombykol- and bombykal-cells of the male. At least in these cells the inhibitory effect might reflect the action of iodobenzene on a general site, e.g. the lipid matrix of the plasma membrane of the receptor cells.     

黄孢原毛皮革菌降解苯胺的工艺研究

通过正交试验优化筛选了适合黄孢原毛皮革菌降解苯胺的适宜培养基和摇瓶培养降解条件。结果表明：其适宜降解的液体培养基组成为：蔗糖20g／L,可溶性淀粉20g／L,(NH4)2SO4l0g／L,Mn^2 lμmol／L,Tween-800．3％,蛋白胨30g／L。适宜降解的摇瓶培养条件为：接种量为20％、pH为7．0、温度为30℃、培养时间为12d．此条件下的苯胺最高降解率可达95．5％。     

Biodegradation of nitrobenzene by a sequential anaerobic-aerobic process

Nitrobenzene was completely degraded by mixed cultures using a sequential anaerobic-aerobic treatment process. Under anaerobic conditions in a fixed-bed column aniline was formed from nitrobenzene through gratuitous reduction by cells of sewage sludge. This reaction was accelerated by the addition of glucose. Complete mineralization of aniline was accomplished by subsequent aerobic treatment using activated sludge as inoculum. The maximum degradation rate of nitrobenzene (4.5 mM) in the two-stage system was 552 mg l^–1d^–1, referring to 154 mg of nitrobenzene per gram of glucose. In a second experimental phase glucose as cosubstrate and H-donor was replaced by synthetic waste containing ethanol, methanol, isopropanol and acetone. Again, nitrobenzene (1.9 mM) was completely degraded (maximum degradation rate of 237 mg l^–d^–1, referring to 251 mg per gram of solvents). The major advantage of the described two-stage process is that the reduction of nitrobenzene by anaerobic pretreatment drastically reduces emission by stripping during aerobic treatment.Abbreviations HRT hydraulic retention time - OD₅₄₆ optical density at 546 nm