Fenton's Reagent-Based In Situ Chemical Oxidation Treatment of Saturated and Unsaturated Soils at a Historic Railroad Site

A targeted treatment program utilizing in situ chemical oxidation was used to remediate diesel fuel-derived petroleum compounds in unsaturated and saturated soils at a historic railroad facility. This program consisted of multiple injections at varying depths within temporary Geoprobe® injection points. The actual treatment time was less than 3 months. Overall concentrations of volatile and semivolatile organic petroleum compounds were reduced by approximately 70%, while the total petroleum hydrocarbon concentration was reduced by nearly 50%. Treatment efficiency in unsaturated soil was similar to that in saturated soil. The results of the remedial program indicate that the effect of grain size of the subsurface materials on treatment efficacy is significant. The project has shown that the use of this technology can be as effective as other in situ treatment technologies used for treating subsurface diesel fuel contamination.     

A simple and sensitive assay for ascorbate using potassium ferricyanide as spectroscopic probe reagent

We have developed a rapid, inexpensive, and reliable assay to determine ascorbate using potassium ferricyanide as spectroscopic probe reagent. In this assay, Fe(III) was deoxidized to Fe(II) by ascorbate at pH 4.0 and then Fe(II) reacted with potassium ferricyanide to form a blue product, soluble Prussian blue (KFe^III[Fe^II(CN)₆]). The absorbance of this product was monitored over time using a spectrophotometer at an absorption maximum of 735 nm and the amount of ascorbate can be calculated based on absorbance. A good linear relationship of the concentration of ascorbate versus absorbance was observed, and the linear regression equation was A = −0.01911 + 0.16208C (μg/ml). Moreover, the apparent molar absorption coefficient of indirect determination of ascorbate was 2.85 × 10⁴ L/mol·cm. To demonstrate the usefulness of this assay, it was used to determine ascorbate in different samples, and we particularly investigated the uptake of ascorbate and ascorbate phosphate in osteoblasts. We found similar plateau levels of intracellular ascorbate at 24 h for ascorbate and ascorbate phosphate. The assay was robust for a variety of samples, including orange juice, fruits, and swine plasma. The assay was quick and very economical and provides results with uncertainties on the order of only 5%.     

Periodic acid-Schiff's reagent assay for carbohydrates in a microtiter plate format

Microtiter plate colorimetric assays are widely used for analysis of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates. However, mucins are often not easily detected, as they have low neutral sugar content. We have adapted and optimised the periodic acid–Schiff’s reagent (PAS) staining for microtiter plate assay by examining five factors: concentration and volume of periodic acid, oxidation time, volume of Schiff’s reagent, and color development time. This assay requires just 25 μl of sample, utilises standardised Schiff’s reagent, and has decreased assay time (140 min to completion). Seventeen monosaccharides (acidic, neutral, basic, phosphorylated, and deoxy) and four disaccharides were assessed. PAS-positive carbohydrates (amino, N-acetylamino, deoxy, and certain neutral monosaccharides, and sialic acids) responded linearly within a 10–100 nmol range approximately, which varied for each carbohydrate. The assay response for fetuin and porcine gastric mucin (PGM) was linear up to 150 μg (highest concentration tested), with no response from nonglycosylated protein. A lower response for asialofetuin was observed, but desialylated PGM preparations were similar or higher in response than their sialylated counterparts. The simplicity and low sample consumption of this method make it an excellent choice for screening or quantitation of chromatographic fractions containing carbohydrates and glycoconjugates, especially in the case of mucins.     

The reaction of H(2)S with oxidized thiols: generation of persulfides and implications to H(2)S biology

Hydrogen sulfide is an endogenously generated molecule with many reported physiological functions. Although several biological targets have been proposed, the biochemical mechanisms by which it elicits activity are not established. Thus, in an effort to begin to delineate the fundamental biological chemistry of H₂S, we have examined the reaction of H₂S with oxidized thiols and thiol proteins in order to determine whether persulfide formation occurs, is stable and how this may affect protein function. We have found that persulfides are easily generated, relatively stable and can alter enzyme activity. Moreover, we have begun to develop methodology for in situ generation of persulfides to facilitate further study of this potentially important species.     

The Recognition of Lipolytic Activity with the Microscope

In view of its probable wide applicability, it seems desirable to publish a note on a simple technic for the recognition with the microscope of the action of lipase. In brief, the method is to make an emulsion of neutral fat previously stained with a red Sudan stain, subject some of the emulsion to the action of the supposed lipase for an appropriate time and then examine with the microscope a recovered drop of the emulsion in a solution of Nile blue sulfate. It has long been known that Nile blue sulfate stains liquid neutral fats a reddish color and fatty acids blue.     

7Li and 23Na NMR studies of transmembrane cation transport mediated by ionophore lasalocid A

Ion transport across phospholipid vesicles was studied by ⁷Li and ²³Na-NMR using an aqueous anionic paramagnetic shift reagent, dysprosium nitrilotriacetate [Dy(NTA)₂]³⁻, mediated by ionophores, lasalocid A and A23187. The intra- and extracellular ⁷Li and ²³Na-NMR signals were well separated (20 Hz) at mM concentration of the shift reagent. The observed data on the rate constant for lithium transport across DPPC vesicles at various concentrations of the ionophores indicated that lasalocid A is a more efficient carrier for lithium ion compared with the sodium ion transport by this ionophore, while A23187 was not specific to either of the ions (Li or Na). ©1998 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

酸、碱、盐胁迫下4种紫花苜蓿几项〖HJ*3〗〖HJ*2〗生理指标变化的比较研究

为了解4种进口紫花苜蓿在逆境条件下幼苗生理响应特点,并比较其对逆境因子的敏感程度以推测其抗逆性,便于指导在我国的因地制宜种植,发挥最大生产性能,特进行比较试验研究。用H2SO4、NaOH、土壤浸出液分别配制pH为3、4、5、6、7、8、9、10、11、12的试剂;当pH为7时,用土壤浸出液配制NaCl浓度分别为0.1%、0.2%、0.3%、0.4%、0.5%、0.6%的试剂;再配制pH分别为8、9、10、11、12,NaCl浓度分别相应为0.2%、0.3%、0.4%、0.5%、0.6%的试剂。分别种植4种苜蓿,检测生理指标,分析敏感性。结果:耐酸能力表现为:金皇后>飞马>阿尔冈金>维多利亚;耐碱能力表现为:飞马>阿尔冈金>金皇后>维多利亚;耐盐能力表现为:飞马>金皇后>阿尔冈金>维多利亚;耐盐碱能力表现为:飞马=阿尔冈金>金皇后>维多利亚。结论:根据4种紫花苜蓿的抗逆特点,分别选择合适的土壤种植。     

Arabinogalactan-proteins in Cichorium somatic embryogenesis: effect of β-glucosyl Yariv reagent and epitope localisation during embryo development

 Direct somatic embryogenesis was induced in root tissues of the Cichorium hybrid `474' (C. intybus L. var. sativum×C. endivia L. var. latifolia). Addition of β-d-glucosyl Yariv reagent (βGlcY), a synthetic phenylglycoside that specifically binds arabinogalactan-proteins (AGPs), to the culture medium blocked somatic embryogenesis in a concentration-dependent manner with complete inhibition of induction occurring at 250 μM βGlcY. The AGP-unreactive α-d-galactosyl Yariv reagent had no biological activity in this system. Upon transfer of 250 μM βGlcY-treated roots to control conditions, somatic embryogenesis was recovered with a time course similar to that of control roots. The βGlcY penetrated roots and bound abundantly to developing somatic embryos, to the root epidermis and the stele. Immunofluorescence and immunogold labelling using monoclonal antibodies (JIM13, JIM16 and LM2) revealed that AGPs were localised in the outer cell walls peripheral cells of the globular embryo. A spatio-temporal expression of AGPs appeared to be associated with differentiation events in the somatic embryo during the transition from the globular stage to the torpedo stage. To verify βGlcY specificity, molecules that bound βGlcY were extracted from treated conditioned medium and identified as AGPs by using the same monoclonal antibodies. In addition, AGPs were found to be abundantly present in the medium during embryogenic culture. All of these results establish the implication of AGPs in embryo development, and their putative role in somatic embryogenesis is discussed. Received: 26 August 1999 / Accepted: 28 January 2000     

Leaf litter stoichiometry affects decomposition rates and nutrient dynamics in tropical forests under restoration in Costa Rica

Active restoration strategies increase the production of leaf litter in tropical forests, but little is known about their effect on litter decomposition and subsequent nutrient release. We quantified changes in leaf litter stoichiometry during decomposition in former pasture sites under contrasting restoration strategies (natural regeneration, applied nucleation/islands tree planting and plantation), as well as in nearby primary forest. Litterbags were employed to evaluate decomposition. We used a leaf mixture of either the four planted tree species in the plantation and island treatments or the nearby primary forest and compared them under a factorial design. Decomposition rates were similar between restoration treatments (p > 0.5), but leaves decomposed faster in the forest mixture than in the plantation mixture (p < 0.01). The content of Ca, Mg, K, P, and the C:N ratio were higher in the forest mixture at the beginning and during decomposition (p < 0.05); the N content in the plantation mixture was higher at the beginning but lower during decomposition (p < 0.05), which meant greater mobilization of nitrogen per unit of carbon lost. K and P had a strong initial release, while Mg was released more gradually. N and Ca had an irregular pattern of initial fast release, immobilization, and re‐release in the later stages. We conclude that the differences in rates of decomposition and nutrient release in these systems under restoration were at least partly determined by the floristic heterogeneity and chemical quality of the leaf litter that reaches the soil.     

About mechanism of chitosan cross-linking with glutaraldehyde

The regularities of the reaction of aminopolysaccharide chitosan with glutaraldehyde (GA) have been considered. The equilibrium forms of GA in water have been thoroughly studied by NMR spectroscopy. It has been established that at pH 5.6, the exchange of the protons of O=CHCH₂ groups for deuterium occurs, indicating the presence of an anion, a product of the first stage of the aldol reaction; at pH > 7.2, the formation of the products of an aldol reaction and aldol condensation takes place. The kinetics of the reaction between the amino groups of chitosan and GA, the kinetics of gel formation in chitosan solutions in the presence of GA, and the kinetics of changes in the rigidity of gels formed have been studied by UV spectroscopy. IR spectra of cross-linked chitosan have been obtained. It has been shown that chitosan catalyzes the polymerization of GA to form irregular products; in this process, the length of oligomeric chains in modified or cross-linked chitosan and the concentration of conjugated bonds increase with the GA concentration and pH of the reaction medium.