Effects of Salicylic Acid on Heavy Metal-Induced Membrane Deterioration Mediated by Lipoxygenase in Rice

Deterioration of membranes caused by lipoxygenase (LOX) activity under 10 μM PbCl₂ or 10 μM HgCl₂ was partially alleviated by the exogenous application of 100 μM salicylic acid (SA). In two cultivars of rice (Oryza sativa L. cvs. Ratna and IR 36), the presence of SA ameliorated the increased leakage of electrolytes, injury index, and the content of malondialdehyde caused by these heavy metals. Lead decreased H₂O₂ content whereas Hg increased it in both cultivars. Application of SA increased H₂O₂ in presence of Pb, while decreased it in presence of Hg. Both Pb and Hg decreased superoxide dismutase activity, while increased peroxidase activity. The activity of catalase was decreased by Hg but increased by Pb and SA reversed their effects. Thus, SA ameliorated the damaging effects of Pb and Hg on membranes. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Closing the Technospheric Flows of Toxic Metals: Modeling Lead Losses from a Lead-Acid Battery System for Sweden

This article investigates technological opportunities to close technospheric flows in a large-scale use of a toxic and scarce metal, lead. It analyzes the lead flows and losses to the environment in a modeled lead-acid battery system for Sweden. The modeled system is built on today's technology for production and recycling of lead and batteries while the recovery of used batteries is varied. The analysis shows that the losses from the production and recycling processes are so low that consumption losses and the recovery rate dominate the total system losses. In a steady state with very high recovery of used batteries, the system losses are small compared to natural lead flows and to the historical lead losses during the industrialization. The modeling assumes that all the secondary lead goes back into the production of new batteries even though in Swedish battery manufacturing today, primary lead dominates the lead supply for lead oxide production. The possibilities for increased secondary lead use in the production of lead oxide are also discussed     

Lead Distribution and Mobility in a Soil Embankment Used as a Bullet Stop at a Shooting Range

The distribution of lead in and below a soil embankment used as a stop butt for lead bullets at a sport shooting range for more than 30 years was investigated. A vertical profile, just behind the shooting target, was mapped by 54 soil samples characterized by contents of lead bullets, soil lead, and easily leachable lead as measured in a leaching test (L/S 2). At the target, the soil contained up to 40% metallic lead and 5 to 10% lead associated with the soil particles (<2?mm). The leaching test showed concentrations of dissolved lead in the range 5 to 20?mg/l. However, in the bottom of the stop butt (about 1?m lower than the target) soil lead was only slightly elevated, and no increase in lead was found below the stop butt in the original soil profile. In the lower part of the stop butt, pH was around 5, which is considered to favor lead migration, but in the soil samples with lead bullets present pH was between 6 and 7. The elevated pH values, probably caused by the corrosion of lead bullets, may have been a significant factor in limiting the migration of lead in the stop butt. The investigation showed that the lead in the stop butt did not affect the surroundings, but that the high lead content of the soil would require that this be treated as waste if the facility was abandoned.     

Improved photoluminescence stability and defect passivation in SbBr3 post-treated CsPbBr3 quantum dots under ambient conditions

Inorganic cesium lead halide perovskites have evoked wide popularity because of their excellent optoelectronic properties, high photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield (PLQY), and narrowband emission. Here, cesium lead bromide (CsPbBr₃) quantum dots (QDs) were synthesized via the ligand-assisted re-precipitation method. Post-synthesis treatment of CsPbBr₃ QDs using antimony tribromide improved the PL stability and optoelectronic properties of the QDs. In addition, the PLQY of the post-treated sample was enhanced to 91% via post-treatment, and the luminescence observed was maintained for 8 days. The post-synthesis treatment ensured defect passivation and improved the stability of CsPbBr₃ perovskite QDs. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of more ordered, uniform-sized CsPbBr₃ QDs after post-synthesis treatment, and the uniformity of the sample improved as the day passed. The formation of a mixed crystal phase was observed from X-ray diffraction in both as-synthesized, as well as post-treated QDs samples with the possibility of a polycrystalline nature in the post-treated CsPbBr₃ QDs as per the selected area electron diffraction pattern. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy spectra confirmed the presence of antimony and the possibility of defect passivation in the post-treated samples. These QDs can act as potential candidates in various optoelectronic applications such as photodetectors and light-emitting diodes due to their high PLQY and longer lifetime.     

An improved histochemical method for measuring nitric oxide synthase activity

The previous quantitative histochemical method for measuring nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in tissue sections involved the loss of about 15 per cent of the NOS, presumably from the section into the reaction medium. Two changes are now described. The first is concerned with the preparation in the laboratory of the active reagent, lead ammonium citrate/acetate (LACA). The second change involves an improvement of the procedure for measuring NOS activity. The new method appears to retain all the measurable NOS activity inside the section. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mixed Cation FAxPEA1–xPbI3 with Enhanced Phase and Ambient Stability toward High‐Performance Perovskite Solar Cells

In this work, different from the commonly explored strategy of incorporating a smaller cation, MA⁺ and Cs⁺ into FAPbI₃ lattice to improve efficiency and stability, it is revealed that the introduction of phenylethylammonium iodide (PEAI) into FAPbI₃ perovksite to form mixed cation FA_xPEA_1–xPbI₃ can effectively enhance both phase and ambient stability of FAPbI₃ as well as the resulting performance of the derived devices. From our experimental and theoretical calculation results, it is proposed that the larger PEA cation is capable of assembling on both the lattice surface and grain boundaries to form quais‐3D perovskite structures. The surrounding of PEA⁺ ions at the crystal grain boundaries not only can serve as molecular locks to tighten FAPbI₃ domains but also passivate the surface defects to improve both phase and moisture stablity. Consequently, a high‐performance (PCE:17.7%) and ambient stable FAPbI₃ solar cell could be developed.     

Leaf features of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth). Variability within and between two populations (uncontaminated vs Pb-contaminated and Zn-contaminated site)

Fourteen morphometric variables of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) leaves from two sites in the Upper Silesia province were analyzed to establish the pattern of intrapopulational and interpopulational relations. The leaves were collected from ten trees growing on a zinc–lead dump as well as from ten trees in the unpolluted area of Mirów within the same bioclimatic region. Leaf samples were collected from the trees during the vegetative seasons 1999 and 2000. The size and shape of leaves were studied using standard biometric methods. Cluster analysis indicated overall differences between the populations. Both populations differed with respect to almost all the morphometric variables (P<0.05). Most variables of the leaves, collected from single trees (or combined as a total) on the zinc–lead dump showed more variability than those from the unpolluted site. Discriminant function analysis confirmed the angle of the leaf base as the most important variable in the evaluation of interpopulational variability of leaves.     

Transient Phytoextraction Agents: Establishing Criteria for the Use of Chelants in Phytoextraction of Recalcitrant Metals

The phytoremediation of recalcitrant metals such as lead and uranium rely on soil amendments to enhance metal availability within the rhizosphere. Because these amendments may persist in soils, agents that not only biodegrade rapidly but also are effective in triggering metal uptake in plants are needed for metals phytoextraction to be considered as an accepted practice. In this study, several biodegradable organic acids and chelating agents were assessed to determine if these amendments can be used in an effective manner, and if their activity and use is consistent with a proposed class of soil amendments for phytoextraction, here termed transient phytoextraction agents (TPAs). A TPA is proposed as an agent that would exhibit both effectiveness in triggering plant accumulation of the targeted metal while minimizing the risk of migration through rapid degradation or inactivation of the soluble complex. Eleven candidate TPAs (acetic acid, ascorbic acid, citric acid, malic acid, oxalic acid, succinic acid, ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid, dicarboxymethylglutamic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, BayPure® CX 100, and the siderophore desferrioxamine B) were tested in batch studies to evaluate their complexation behavior using contaminated soils, with uranium and lead as the target metals. A growth chamber study was then conducted with Brassica juncea (Indian mustard), Helianthus annuus (sunflower), and Festuca arundinacea (tall fescue) grown in a lead-contaminated soil that was treated with the candidate TPAs to assess phytoextraction effectiveness. For the soils tested, citric acid, oxalic acid, and succinic acid were found to be effective complexing agents for uranium phytoextraction, whereas Baypure® CX 100 and citric acid exhibited effectiveness for lead phytoextraction.     

Diaphragmatic stimulation: a case of atrial lead dislodgement and right atrium perforation

We report a 48 year old male who presented with diaphragmatic stimulation. The biventricular implantable cardioverter and defibrillator (CRT-D) was implanted two weeks before admission and active fixation lead caused perforation of the right atrial wall. Echocardiography did not demonstrate pericardial effusion but Chest X-ray and computed tomography (CT) visualized the atrial screw helix outside the right atrial wall, penetrating through the right lung middle lobe. There was no atrial capture. After changing the pace mode DDDR to VVIR, diaphragmatic stimulation was disappeared. The atrial lead was repositioned and fixed again. During the hospital admission and after that the patient was well and free of any symptoms.