Uptake of weathered p,p′-DDE by plant species effective at accumulating soil elements

Ten plant species previously shown to accumulate inorganic elements effectively from natural solids were grown under field conditions in p,p′-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (p,p′-DDE) contaminated soil. The plant species, which included rye, mustard, canola, vetch, pigeonpea, clover, peanut, and 3 cultivars of white lupin, represented both monocots and dicots, as well as two major families within the dicots: the Brassicaceae and the Fabaceae. The plants varied widely in their ability to phytoextract and translocate weathered p,p′-DDE. The percentage of contaminant phytoextracted ranged from 0.06% (white lupin) to 0.22% (clover, vetch), and the translocation factors (TF; contaminant concentration ratio of stems to roots) ranged from 0.04 (clover, white lupin) to 0.37 (canola). An inverse relationship exists between the amount of contaminant in the roots as measured by the root BCF (bioconcentration factor; dry weight contaminant concentration ratio of root to soil) and the TF. Duplicate mounds of each species were periodically amended with nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), nitrogen and phosphorus together (N/P); a minus phosphorus treatment involved the addition of AlSO₄ to the soil prior to planting. The effect of nutrient regime on plant biomass, p,p′-DDE uptake and translocation, and inorganic element content varied greatly among the 10 plant species. For some species (rye, vetch, pigeonpea, clover, white lupin), reductions or non-significant changes in p,p′-DDE uptake were observed under the nutrient treatments and were not correlated with plant biomass effects. For mustard, canola, and peanut, the percentage of p,p′-DDE phytoextracted in the various treatments was more than doubled and was directly correlated with a two-fold increase in total plant biomass. Although it is generally assumed that fertilizer amendments will enhance the phytoremediation of organic and inorganic pollutants, the data here suggest that such effects are highly species specific and in some cases may actually decrease remediation potential.     

Spectroscopic properties of the photoproducts of pyridoxal-5′-P irradiation: Catalytic site recognition of ribonuclease A

Photoproducts of pyridoxal-5-P, i.e., 4-pyridoxic-5-P and bis-pyridoxal-5-P, have been studied by spectroscopic methods. The spectroscopic properties of bis-pyridoxal-5-P (bis-PLP) resemble those of pyridoxal-5-P (PLP) under similar experimental conditions. The coupling of methylen hydrogens to the phosphorus atom has been shown by NMR spectroscopy. The singlet in the³¹P-NMR spectra and the triplet in¹H-undecoupled experiments confirm the presence of the phosphate group in the 5 position of the structure of the vitamin. The effect of pH and solvent composition on the relative distribution of species of bis-pyridoxine-5-P (bis-PNP) has been investigated by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The acid-base dissociation of the phosphate group is easily detected by emission spectroscopy. Bis-PNP and bis-PLP bind to the enzyme RNase A and they behave as competitive inhibitors with respect to the substrate cytidine-2-3-cyclic phosphate. The natural forms of vitamin B₆, pyridoxine, and pyridoxine-5-P have no effect on the catalytic activity of the protein. Experimental evidence derived from fluorescence and inhibition experiments is consistent with the hypothesis that bis-PNP recognizes the catalytic site of RNase A.     

Distinguished extensions of a lattice-ordered group

Any lattice-ordered group (l-group for short) is essentially extended by its lexicographic product with a totally ordered group. That is, anl-homomorphism (i.e., a group and lattice homomorphism) on the extension which is injective on thel-group must be injective on the extension as well. Thus nol-group has a maximal essential extension in the categoryIGp ofl-groups withl-homomorphisms. However, anl-group is a distributive lattice, and so has a maximal essential extension in the categoryD of distributive lattices with lattice homomorphisms. Adistinguished extension of onel-group by another is one which is essential inD. We characterize such extensions, and show that everyl-groupG has a maximal distinguished extensionE(G) which is unique up to anl-isomorphism overG.E(G) contains most other known completions in whichG is order dense, and has mostl-group completeness properties as a result. Finally, we show that ifG is projectable then E(G) is the -completion of the projectable hull ofG.Presented by M. Henriksen.     

Primeness of the enveloping algebra of a Cartan type Lie superalgebra

We show that a primeness criterion for enveloping algebras of Lie superalgebras discovered by Bell is applicable to the Cartan type Lie superalgebras , even. Other algebras are considered but there are no definitive answers in these cases.

     

The Boolean Prime Ideal Theorem Plus Countable Choice Do Not Imply Dependent Choice

Two Fraenkel-Mostowski models are constructed in which the Boolean Prime Ideal Theorem is true. In both models, AC for countable sets is true, but AC for sets of cardinality 2 and the 2m = m principle are both false. The Principle of Dependent Choices is true in the first model, but false in the second. Mathematics Subject Classification: 03E25, 03E35, 04A25.     

Effect of ‘Transannular Transmission’ in Dibenzo-18-Crown-6

The effect of the nature of the substituent in the monosubstituted derivatives of dibenzo-18-crown-6 on the reactivity and direction of the electrophilic substitution reaction of the unsubstituted benzene ring has been determined. This transfer is carried out via the macrocycle and therefore is called transannular transmission. The possible mechanism of this transmission is discussed.     

Synthesis of pyridine derivatives by reactions of α,β-unsaturated nitriles with 2-oxo-cycloalkano carbothioic acid anilides

Summary The tandem Michael addition-cyclization of 2-oxo-cycloalkane carbothioic acid anilides1–3 to benzylidenemalononitrile4 yielded spiroannulated pyridines5–7. Reaction of acrylonitrile with2 and3 gave 2,2-disubstituted Michael adducts14,15, whereas with1 led to 2,2,5-tri(2-cyanoethyl)-cyclopentanone11.

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Synthese von Pyridinderivaten durch Reaktionen von ,-ungesättigten Nitrilen mit 2-Oxo-cycloalkano-thiokohlensäure-aniliden

Zusammenfassung Die Michael Tandem-Addition-Cyclisierung von 2-Oxo-cycloalkano-thiokohlensäure-aniliden1–3 mit Benzylidenmalononitril4 ergab die spiroannelierten Pyridine5–7. Reaktion von Acrylnitril mit2 und3 ergab die 2,2-disubstituierten Michael-Addukte14,15, wohingegen mit1 2,2,5-Tri(2-cyanethyl)-cyclopentanon11 erhalten wurde.

     

Camdas: An automated conformational analysis system using molecular dynamics

We present an automated conformational analysis program, CAMDAS (Conformational Analyzer with Molecular Dynamics And Sampling). CAMDAS performs molecular dynamics (MD) calculations for a target molecule and samples conformers from the trajectory of the MD. The program then evaluates the similarities between each of the sampled conformers in terms of the root- mean-square deviations of the atomic positions, clusters similar conformers, and finally prints out the clustered conformers. This MD-based conformational analysis is a broadly used method, and CAMDAS is intended to provide a convenient framework for the method. CAMDAS has the ability to find the representative conformers automatically from an arbitrarily given structure of the molecule. The accuracy of the program was examined using N- acetylalanine-N-methylamide, and the obtained result was consistent with that of the systematic search method. In the test calculation of cyclodecane, CAMDAS could identify most of the known conformers and their conformational enantiomers by examining only 5000 conformers. In addition, the potential-scaled method, which we have developed previously as an accelerating technique for MD, could find two additional conformers of cyclodecane that have not been reported. CAMDAS presents a convenient way to find the energetically possible conformers of a molecule, which is needed especially in the early stage of drug design.     

Synthesis of 2,3′-biindolyls and indolo[3,2-a]carbazoles

Several highly activated 2,3′-biindolyls were prepared from methyl 5,6-dimethoxyindole-2-carboxylate and oxindoles. The 2,3′-biindolyls were further transformed into a hydroxy indolo[3,2-a]carbazole and a bisindole amide.     

Shape of the proton potential in an intramolecular hydrogen-bonded system. Part II

The crystals of 5,5′-dibromo-3-diethylaminomethyl-2,2′-biphenol N-oxide were studied by X-ray and FT-IR spectroscopy. Within this molecule two short OHO intramolecular hydrogen bonds are formed. The NO?H⁺?O⁻ bond between the OH and the N-oxide groups is very strong, of 2.419(7) Å between the oxygen atoms. The proton potential of this hydrogen bond is flat, broad and has probably no barrier—consequently it could not be located from X-ray diffraction data. The other hydrogen bond formed between two hydroxyl groups appears asymmetrical from FT-IR spectra, and shows also relatively limited proton polarizability. The molecular conformation is non-planar, due to strong overcrowding effect between the oxygen atoms involved in the hydrogen bonds.