Alleviation of adverse effects of drought stress on growth and some potential physiological attributes in maize (Zea mays L.) by seed electromagnetic treatment

Effects of varying preseed magnetic treatments on growth, chlorophyll pigments, photosynthesis, water relation attributes, fluorescence and levels of osmoprotectants in maize plants were tested under normal and drought stress conditions. Seeds of two maize cultivars were treated with different (T0 [0 mT], T1 [100 mT for 5 min], T2 [100 mT for 10 min], T3 [150 mT for 5 min] and T4 [150 mT for 10 min]) electromagnetic treatments. Drought stress considerably suppressed growth, chlorophyll a and b pigments, leaf water potential, photosynthetic rate (A), stomatal conductance (g(s)) and substomatal CO(2) concentration (C(i)), while it increased leaf glycinebetaine and proline accumulation in both maize cultivars. However, pretreated seeds with different magnetic treatments significantly alleviated the drought-induced adverse effects on growth by improving chlorophyll a, A, E, g(s), C(i) and photochemical quenching and nonphotochemical quenching, while it had no significant effect on other attributes. However, different magnetic treatments negatively affected the g(s) and C(i) particularly in cv. Agaiti-2002 under drought stress conditions. Of all magnetic treatments, 100 and 150 mT for 10 min were most effective in alleviating the drought-induced adverse effects. Overall, preseed electromagnetic treatments could be used to minimize the drought-induced adverse effects on different crop plants.     

A Green and Highly Efficient Protocol for Catalyst‐free Knoevenagel Condensation and Michael Addition of Aromatic Aldehydes with 1,3‐Cyclic Diketones in PEG‐400

A convenient, highly efficient and green approach for synthesis of tetraketones from aromatic aldehydes with dimedone and 1,3‐indanedione at room temperature in PEG‐400 is described. The use of PEG‐400 as the reaction medium and avoiding the use of any catalyst makes the process environmentally benign. Seven new compounds are reported.     

Effects of surfactants on microwave-assisted solid-state intercalation of poly(carbazole) in Bentonite

The present preliminary investigation reports, for the first time, the effects of typical cationic and anionic surfactants on the microwave-assisted solid-state intercalation and polymerization of carbazole (Cz) in the basal spacings of Bentonite. The intercalation of cetyl pyridinium chloride (CPCl), a cationic surfactant, and naphthalene sulfonic acid (NSA), an anionic surfactant, in Bentonite was carried out at two loadings—25 and 50 wt%—using microwave irradiation. The in situ polymerization of Cz was successfully carried out into the surfactant-modified galleries of Bentonite. This was confirmed by Gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The intercalation of poly(carbazole) (PCz) was confirmed by FT-IR, UV–Visible, and XRD analyses. Although polymerization was carried out in the solid-state, the UV–Visible spectra revealed the doped state of PCz and the presence of a charge carrier tail. The XRD studies showed that the increase in the height of the galleries was higher in case of Bentonite/CPCl/PCz nanocomposites as compared to Bentonite/NSA/PCz nanocomposites. It also revealed different orientations of the two surfactants in the galleries of the clay. The average particle size of Bentonite/CPCl/PCz (1:0.25:0.25) and (1:0.5:0.5) nanocomposites was found to be in the range of 25–35 and 50–60 nm, respectively. The Bentonite/NSA/PCz (1:0.25:0.25) and (1:0.5:0.5) nanocomposites showed the average particle size in the range of 20–30 nm and 40–50 nm, respectively. The results revealed that both cationic and anionic surfactants strongly influenced the morphology of Bentonite/PCz nanocomposites. The difference in the mechanisms of solid-state intercalation of PCz in the presence of these surfactants has been proposed.     

Fast and efficient removal of Reactive Black 5 from aqueous solution by a combined method of ultrasound and sorption process

Removal of Reactive Black 5 (RB5) from aqueous solutions was carried by the sorption process in the presence and in the absence of ultrasound. Sorption of the dye on the solid phase was investigated in a series of batch sorption experiments to determine the influence of different parameters such as contact time, amount of sorbent and concentration of pollutant on the removal efficiency of RB5 with and without ultrasound. The experimental data were fitted properly to the Freundlich model and the isotherm constants were 28.2 and 7.4 for k(f) and 0.13 and 0.38 for 1/n in the presence and in the absence of ultrasound (20 kHz) respectively. The data were analyzed with different sorption kinetic models and were better fitted with a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Two ultrasonic generators at 20 and 500 kHz were used for sonication of the system. This investigation also reveals that RB5 can be removed by higher frequency apparatus (500 kHz) without sorbent in about 60 min sonication. The rate of removal was higher at the higher frequency than at the lower one.     

Ion-induced kinetic electron emission from 6LiF,7LiF and MgF2 thin films

<正>Secondary electron yields for Ar~+ impact on ~6LiF,~7LiF and MgF_2 thin films grown on aluminum substrates are measured each as a function of target temperature and projectile energy.Remarkably different behaviours of the electron yields for LiF and MgF_2 films are observed in a temperature range from 25℃to 300℃.The electron yield of LiF is found to sharply increase with target temperature and to be saturated at about 175℃.But the target temperature has no effect on the electron yield of MgF_2.It is also found that for the ion energies greater than 4 keV,the electron yield of ~6LiF is consistently high as compared with that of ~7LiF that may be due to the enhanced contribution of recoiling ~6Li atoms to the secondary electron generation.A comparison between the electron yields of MgF_2 and LiF reveales that above a certain ion energy the electron yield of MgF_2 is considerably low as compared with that of LiF.We suggest that the short inelastic mean free path of electrons in MgF_2 can be one of the reasons for its low electron yield.     

A Brief Review on Fluorescent Copper Sensor Based on Conjugated Organic Dyes

The design and development of the fluorescence reporting molecules for the trace recognition of the metallic ions in the aqueous, mixed organic aqueous media, environmental specimen, living things e.g., body fluids, serum, urine etc is the evergreen research area. Among several methodologies utilized for these purposes, the fluorescent techniques have wonderful impact in the era of metal sensor development due to their acclamatory features of non-invasive detection process and appreciable sensitivity. The utilization of small organic molecules for the sensation of metallic ions through the fluorescent techniques harvested the wonderful results having some interesting features of chromogenic response on metal binding, robustness in the preparation and applicability to establish the metallic accumulation level inside the live cells via bioimaging studies. The detailed knowledge and background about the several reported chemosening strategies have the utmost importance in order to understand or to design the novel molecules for metal sensing purposes. The objective of the presents review was to compile the best ever used copper sensing strategies via fluorescent means in the running decade. We have summarized the values of optical positions of the spectral lines, spectral shifting upon metal binding, binding/association/dissociation constants, chromogenic changes in the reaction mixture, proposed complexation mechanism of the ligand with the copper, ligand sensitivities toward the copper recognition, binding stoichiometries and the detailed bioimaging results where applicable.     

Synthesis of novel macrocyclic di‐ and tetralactams containing triazole subunits

The new macrocyclic di‐ and tetralactams 9 , 15 , and 16 were obtained in 16–24% yields by heating the appropriate bis‐amines 7 or 8 with the corresponding bisaldehyde 5 or 14 in refluxing acetic acid under high‐dilution conditions. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 14:551–559, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.10191     

Efficient Removal of Pb(II) from Aqueous Medium Using Chemically Modified Silica Monolith

The adsorptive removal of lead (II) from aqueous medium was carried out by chemically modified silica monolith particles. Porous silica monolith particles were prepared by the sol-gel method and their surface modification was carried out using trimethoxy silyl propyl urea (TSPU) to prepare inorganic–organic hybrid adsorbent. The resultant adsorbent was evaluated for the removal of lead (Pb) from aqueous medium. The effect of pH, adsorbent dose, metal ion concentration and adsorption time was determined. It was found that the optimum conditions for adsorption of lead (Pb) were pH 5, adsorbent dose of 0.4 g/L, Pb(II) ions concentration of 500 mg/L and adsorption time of 1 h. The adsorbent chemically modified SM was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), BET/BJH and thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA). The percent adsorption of Pb(II) onto chemically modified silica monolith particles was 98%. An isotherm study showed that the adsorption data of Pb(II) onto chemically modified SM was fully fitted with the Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm models. It was found from kinetic study that the adsorption of Pb(II) followed a pseudo second-order model. Moreover, thermodynamic study suggests that the adsorption of Pb(II) is spontaneous and exothermic. The adsorption capacity of chemically modified SM for Pb(II) ions was 792 mg/g which is quite high as compared to the traditional adsorbents. The adsorbent chemically modified SM was regenerated, used again three times for the adsorption of Pb(II) ions and it was found that the adsorption capacity of the regenerated adsorbent was only dropped by 7%. Due to high adsorption capacity chemically modified silica monolith particles could be used as an effective adsorbent for the removal of heavy metals from wastewater.     

Thermolysis of symmetrical dithiobiurea and thioureidoethylthiourea derivatives

Microwave and thermal heterocyclization of N,N′‐disubstituted hydrazinecarbothioamide 1a,b and substituted thioureidoethylthioureas 2a–c as well as 1‐phenyl‐3[2‐(3‐phenylthio‐ureido)phenyl]thiourea 6 are reported. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 14:535–541, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.10188     

Positron annihilation: a unique method for studying polymers

Positron annihilation is a unique technique for studying the local free volume of polymers. Employing the positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) the size and size distribution of subnanometer size holes which constitute the excess free volume may be studied. In combination with macroscopic volume data the fractional free volume and the number density of holes may be estimated. After presenting the principles of the method, some examples typically for the investigation of the free volume in polymers will be given. Moreover, the study of interdiffusion in demixed polymer blends and further applications are shortly reviewed