Long term behaviors of stochastic single-species growth models in a polluted environment

Thresholds for extinction and persistence are important for assessing the risk of mortality in systems exposed to toxicant. In this paper, three single-species models with random perturbation in a polluted environment are proposed and investigated. One is the generalized logistic model and the other two are the stochastic resource–consumer models of Leslie and Gallopin. For each model, the survival threshold is obtained in some cases. In general, each threshold is determined by intensity of the random noise, the mean stress measure in organisms, the population intrinsic growth rate and the stress response rate.     

Controlling the transmission of stereochemical information through space in terphenyl-edged Fe4L6 cages

A series of terphenyl-edged Fe(4)L(6) cages were synthesized from substituted 4,4'-diamino-p-terphenyls, 2-formylpyridine, and iron(II). For the parent diaminoterphenyl, all three possible diastereomers, with T, S(4), and C(3) point symmetries, were formed in nearly equal amounts, as determined by (1)H and (13)C NMR. When 2,2″-dimethylterphenylenediamine was used, the T-symmetry diastereomer was observed to predominate. The use of 2',3',5',6'-tetramethylterphenylenediamine generated predominantly the S(4) cage diastereomer, whereas 2',5'-dimethylterphenylenediamine produced the C(3)-symmetric cage to a greater degree than the other two diastereomers. The factors contributing to the transfer of chiral information between metal vertices were analyzed, and the general principles underlying the delicately balanced thermodynamics were determined.     

Rational solution growth of α-FeOOH nanowires driven by screw dislocations and their conversion to α-Fe2O3 nanowires

We report the rational synthesis of α-FeOOH (goethite) nanowires following a dislocation-driven mechanism by utilizing a continuous-flow reactor and chemical equilibria to maintain constant low supersaturations. The existence of axial screw dislocations and the associated Eshelby twist in the nanowire product were confirmed using bright-/dark-field transmission electron microscopy imaging and twist contour analysis. The α-FeOOH nanowires can be readily converted into semiconducting single-crystal but porous α-Fe(2)O(3) (hematite) nanowires via topotactic transformation. Our results indicate that, with proper experimental design, many more useful materials can be grown in one-dimensional morphologies in aqueous solutions via the dislocation-driven mechanism.     

A potential fluorescence detection approach to trace hexachlorobenzene via disaggregating with ethanol

A potential ultra-sensitive detection approach for hexachlorobenzene (HCB), based on the measurement of the intrinsic fluorescence of well-separated HCB molecules in ethanol, has been proposed. Owing to the strong intermolecular π-π stacking interaction of the planar aromatic rings, self-aggregated HCB shows almost no fluorescence. However, the intrinsic emission of HCB can readily be detected in ethanol due to the enhanced emission from the disaggregated HCB, which is related to the hydrogen bond formation between ethanol and HCB. By simply measuring the HCB intrinsic fluorescence, a HCB concentration a little bit higher than 10(-14) M (~0.001 ppt) in ethanol can be detected; moreover, the fluorescence intensity of the HCB increases linearly with the HCB concentration ranging from 10(-10) to 10(-7) M. The approach might provide a simple, fast and efficient method for HCB quantification.     

Highly selective in situ metal ion determination by hybrid electrochemical "adsorption-desorption" and colorimetric methods

A novel and facile hybrid analytical method coupling electrochemical “adsorption–desorption” and colorimetric analyses was developed to detect heavy metal ions in turbid water samples. The target metal ions were deposited onto an electrode inserted into the original sample, which was referred to as the “adsorption” process. After changing the medium, the concentrated target metal ions were dissolved in a new, clean buffer (blank buffer), which was referred to as the “desorption” process. The concentrations of the target metal ions were measured by colorimetric analyses after the addition of specific indicator amounts. We demonstrated the applicability of this method by detecting Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺ and Cu²⁺ with co-depositing Bi³⁺ on portable screen-printed electrodes (SPEs). A good correlation (correlation coefficient of R = 0.997) was observed between concentrations ranging from 1 to 200 μM and absorbance values. After the multiple “desorption” process, the even better detection limits as low as 10, 10 and 100 nM were achieved for Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺ and Cu²⁺, respectively. The practicality of this hybrid method was confirmed by the detection of Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺ and Cu²⁺ in wastewater samples, and these results were in agreement with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Overall, this hybrid method provides a simple, selective and effective technique for environmental pollutant analyses.     

NBS‐Promoted Rearrangement of 1,1‐Diarylmethylenecyclopentane

The 1‐aroyl‐1‐aryl‐2‐bromocyclopentanes 3a , 3b , 3c and 3d (Ar = C₆H₅, 2‐FC₆H₄, 3‐FC₆H₄, 4‐FC₆H₄) were prepared from N‐bromosuccinimide (NBS)‐promoted rearrangement of 1,1‐diarylmethylenecyclopentane 2 . The possible mechanism was proposed. Two 1‐phenyl‐cyclopentane carbamides 5a and 5b with the anti‐influenza effect were also accomplished from compound 3a .     

LC Tissue Distribution Study of Paeonol in Rats after Oral Administration

Paeonol, an important constituent of the traditional Chinese medicine Cortex Moutan, has a variety of bioactivity. A simple and sensitive HPLC?CUV method has been developed for analysis of paeonol in different rat tissue (heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, and brain). Bio-samples were prepared by simple protein precipitation, and separation of paeonol was achieved on a C₁₈ column with methanol?C2% glacial acetic acid solution 70:30 (v/v) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min^?1. UV detection was at 274 nm and the column temperature was 30 °C. Linearity was good between 0.025 and 5.0 ??g mL^?1 (r ² ?? 0.9990) for tissue samples. Inter-day and intra-day accuracy (as relative error, RE) and precision (as relative standard deviation, RSD) were <5.94 and 6.05%, respectively. The limit of detection was 0.025 ??g mL^?1 and extraction recovery for all samples was ??85.86%. The method was successfully applied to a tissue-distribution study after oral administration of 40 mg kg^?1 paeonol to healthy Sprague?CDawley rats. The study showed that paeonol was quickly distributed and eliminated after oral administration; liver and kidney were the major distribution tissues of paeonol in rats, and paeonol quickly passed through the blood?Cbrain barrier. It was also found there was no long-term accumulation of paeonol in rat tissues.     

Controllable synthesis, magnetism and solubility enhancement of graphene nanosheets/magnetite hybrid material by covalent bonding

Hybrids of Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles and surface-modified graphene nanosheets (GNs) were synthesized by a two-step process. First, graphene nanosheets were modified by SOCl(2) and 4-aminophenoxyphthalonitrile to introduce nitrile groups on their surface. Second, the nitrile groups of surface-modified graphene nanosheets were reacted with ferric ions on the surface of Fe(3)O(4) with the help of relatively high boiling point solvent ethylene glycol to form a GNs/Fe(3)O(4) hybrid. The covalent attachment of Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles on the graphene nanosheet surface was confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). TEM and HRTEM observations indicated that the sizes of the nanoparticles and their coverage density on GNs could be easily controlled by changing the concentration of the precursor and the weight ratio to GNs. Magnetic measurements showed that magnetization of the hybrid materials is strongly influenced by the reaction conditions. Chemically bonded by phthalocyanine, the solubility of as-synthesized GNs/Fe(3)O(4) hybrid materials was greatly enhanced, which was believed to have potential for applications in the fields of composites, wastewater treatment and biomaterials.     

Synthesis of 3D porous ferromagnetic NiFe2O4 and using as novel adsorbent to treat wastewater

Three dimensions (3D) porous NiFe(2)O(4) is synthesized by a sol-gel method using egg white. The obtained NiFe(2)O(4) shows both good ferromagnetic properties and high adsorption capacity. The porous NiFe(2)O(4) shows good adsorption properties for organic dyes (Methylene Blue (138.50 mg/g), Fuchsine Red (14.61 mg/g), Methyl Violet (19.06 mg/g)) and heavy metal ions (Cu (II) (55.83 mg/g), Cr (VI) (36.95 mg/g) and Ni (II) (37.02 mg/g)) due to its 3D interconnected porous structure. The maximum adsorption of Methylene Blue (MB) fit the pseudo-second-order model and Langmuir isotherm equation well. More interestingly, the ferromagnetic NiFe(2)O(4) can be separated under a magnetic field conveniently and keeps high removal efficiency (>97%) during seven reusable cycles. These results suggest that the porous NiFe(2)O(4) is a promising favorable and reusable adsorbent.