A QSAR for Measuring Sublethal Responses in the Marine Macroalga Enteromorpha intestinalis

Abstract

Two methods for measuring the effect of organic toxicants on the marine macroalga Enteromorpha intestinalis were compared. EC₅₀ data for the effect of C₁?C₈ n?alcohols on neutral red dye retention and ion leakage were used to construct QSARs with log K_ow as the only physicochemical parameter. The two QSARs were statistically indistinguishable suggesting that both procedures reflect the same non-specific narcotic effect on membrane integrity. The effect on ion leakage of compounds with more specific modes of action was also investigated. The herbicides diuron and diquat had no effect at concentrations which inhibit photosynthesis, the uncoupler 2,4-dichlorophenol was no more toxic than a narcotic of similar polarity, but the known high toxicity of the antifouling compound tributyltin was clearly reflected by the ion leakage response.     

The Use of High Pressure Liquid Chromatography for the Identification and Preparation of Pigments Concerned in Photosynthesis

Abstract

The chlorophylls and carotenoids present in preparations from chloroplasts of marine algae can be extracted and separated by high pressure liquid chromatography (H.P.L.C.). The reverse-phase columns; Partisil 10 ODS (Whatman), μ Bondapak C18 and μ Bondapak CN (Waters Associates) gave good separation of the different pigments. Addition of the ion-pairing agent tetrabutylamnonium phosphate to the methanol/water solvents gave improved separations with complex mixtures and identification was facilitated by examination of the column eluant at 440nm where a ll the pigments absorbed and at 650nm where only chlorophylls absorbed. The method allowed the isolation of individual pigments for further study.     

Numeration methods for targeting photoactive materials in the UV-A photocatalytic removal of microorganisms

This tutorial review reports on the different numeration methods for evaluating the efficiency of the photocatalytic action on microorganisms. Here we put forward the advantages and drawbacks of the standard methods such as the plate count, the fluorescence techniques and the Most Probable Number method for determining the biocidal photocatalytic activity and thus selecting efficient photocatalytic materials among complex systems. We highlight that bacterial spores are a representative and suitable tool for meeting the restrictive requirements resulting from the complex use of living matter instead of chemical targets.     

New Method for Determining H-Bond Energy: Fluorescence from Neutral Red in Water Compared to Fluorescence from Neutral Red in Benzene

A new method is presented for determining the H-bond energy between a fluorescent solute and water. In the current example the hydrogen-bond energy between neutral red (NR) and water was measured. The H-bond energy was obtained from the temperature dependence of the ratio of the 625 nm fluorescence intensity from NR in water, which increases with increasing temperature, to that of the 530 nm intensity from NR in benzene, which decreases with increasing temperature. The H-bond energy so determined is (10050 ± 60) J-mol⁻¹, which compares favorably with an H-bond E_HB value for pure water of 10170 J-mol⁻¹. Intermolecular hydrogen-bonding between water and NR increases the nonradiative deactivation process of the excited molecule due to fast energy dissipation through the vibrations associated with the hydrogen bonds. Some of the hydrogen bonds are broken with an increase in temperature, resulting in an increase in the number of free NR molecules, thus increasing the fluorescence quantum yield.     

Mimicking Photosynthesis: A Natural Z-Scheme Photocatalyst Constructed from Red Mud Bauxite Waste for Overall Water Splitting

All-solid-state Z-Scheme photocatalysts have attracted significant attention due to their great potential for solar fuel production. However, delicately coupling two individual semiconductors with a charge shuttle by a material strategy remains a challenge. Herein, we demonstrate a new protocol of natural Z-Scheme heterostructures by strategically engineering the component and interfacial structure of red mud bauxite waste. Advanced characterizations elucidated that the hydrogen-induced formation of metallic Fe enabled the effective Z-Scheme electron transfer from γ-Fe₂O₃ to TiO₂, leading to the significantly boosted spatial separation of photo-generated carriers for overall water splitting. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first Z-Scheme heterojunction based on natural minerals for solar fuel production. Thus our work provides a new avenue toward the utilization of natural minerals for advanced catalysis applications.     

Use of Constant Energy Synchronous Luminescence Spectroscopy for DL-Amphetamine Analysis

Abstract

The constant energy synchronous luminescence which is a synchronous excitation method was used for identification and quantification of dl-amphetamine. The reduction of the Raman scattering is achieved and consequently gives an appreciable increase in apparent sensitivity. The detection limit in pure aqueous solution is thereby brought down to a few ppm, which is often sufficient to reveal its presence in seized powdered material.     

Use of Microwave Maceration in Red Winemaking: Effect on Fermentation and Chemical Composition of Red Wines

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of microwave treatment of crushed grapes on the yeast population of the must and on the development of alcoholic fermentation, as well as on the extraction of different compounds from the grapes such as polysaccharides and amino acids that can affect the organoleptic quality and stability of the wine. This study demonstrated for the first time the effect of the microwave treatment of grapes on native yeast species and their diversity, producing an increase in fermentation kinetics and a decrease in the lag phase. The microwave treatment produced a positive effect on the extraction of amino acids and polysaccharides from the grapes, resulting in significantly higher amounts of the main amino acids of the must and some major volatile compounds in the treated samples. The polysaccharides most affected by the microwave treatment were the PRAGs, the main polysaccharides liberated from grapes during the maceration.     

The Meaning and Use of the Arrhenius Activation Energy

The nature of the Arrhenius activation energy and frequency factor is reexamined in terms of information now becoming available on the microscopic aspects of collisional reactions. It is pointed out that the activation energy is not generally equal to the threshold for reaction, and its correct conceptual meaning is discussed. The temperature dependence of this quantity and its relation to the threshold energy is developed for a number of representative forms of the energy dependence of the reaction cross-section (excitation function). The uses and limitations of the activation energy as a means of evaluating thresholds, excitation functions, and the presence of tunneling processes are discussed.     

Effect of UV-A irradiance on lipid accumulation in Nannochloropsis oculata

Lipids produced by microalgae can be grouped into two categories, storage lipids and structural lipids. Storage lipids are mainly triglycerides (TGs) made up of saturated fatty acids; TGs can be transesterified to produce biodiesel. Structural lipids are made of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which are essential nutrients for aquatic animals and humans. The objectives of this study were: (1) to determine the effect of UV-A at different levels of exposure on total lipid accumulation in Nannochloropsis oculata and check for reciprocity and (2) to study the interactive effect of UV-A and nutrient concentration on lipid accumulation in N. oculata. Objective 1 was accomplished by testing the effects of a range of UV-A irradiance (I), duration of exposure (T) and UV-A doses (I × T) on lipid production by N. oculata. If the same doses have a similar effect, irrespective of I and T, reciprocity holds. UV-A treatments significantly increased the chlorophyll-specific lipid concentration of N. oculata cells, and we were unable to falsify that reciprocity holds. Objective 2 was addressed by a factorial bioassay experiment with manipulated nutrient and UV-A levels. UV-A and decreased nutrients had a synergistic effect on chlorophyll-specific lipid concentration of N. oculata, resulting in higher lipid:chl ratios.     

Heavy Metal Depuration Steps for Gracilaria chilensis in Outdoor Culture Systems

Seaweed aquaculture is affected by natural and anthropogenic stressors, which put the biomass productivity of the cultures at risk. Seaweed biomass for commercial purposes, principally in pharmaceutical and/or nutraceutical applications, needs to be free of pollutants; therefore, controlled cultures have relevance in regulating the quality of biomass. The aim of this work was to demonstrate the successful utilization of controlled outdoor cultures to remove excess heavy metal accumulation in Gracilaria chilensis, an important commercial seaweed farming model. Specifically, we designed a simple and operational heavy metal depuration protocol, utilizing seawater and tap water removal, which permitted the concentration reduction of 10 heavy metals, including As, Cu, and Cd but not Zn, from the biomass at 7 days of culture. The percentage of depuration of the heavy metals ranged from 32 to 92% at 7 days, which was maintained throughout 21 days of culture. During the culture period, the monitored physicochemical parameters (temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen, among others) remained stable, with an increase in the daily growth rate (DGR% d⁻¹) of the biomass recorded after 14 days of culture. Consequently, the experimental setup was successful for heavy metal depuration, which highlights the importance of controlled outdoor cultures as important tools of sustainability.     

Photodimerization of 7,8-dihydroneopterin in aqueous solution under UV-A irradiation

7,8-Dihydroneopterin (H(2) Nep) is secreted during the oxidative burst of stimulated macrophages. The photochemistry of H(2) Nep was investigated in neutral aqueous solutions exposed to UV-A radiation (320-400nm) at room temperature. The kinetics were followed by UV/Vis spectrophotometry and HPLC, whereas the photoproducts were analyzed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Excitation of H(2) Nep leads to the formation of isomeric dimers with molecular masses equal to exactly twice the molecular mass of the reactant. The corresponding quantum yield of H(2) Nep consumption (Φ(-R) =(3.8±0.5)×10(-2)) was independent of O(2) and reactant concentrations. Mechanistic implications are discussed.     

DNA荧光探针—荧光素-中性红体系的研究

基于DNA对荧光素(FL)-中性红(NR)分子间荧光能量转移的抑制作用，以荧光素-中性红为荧光探针，考察该探针与DNA的结合反应，建立了准确测定DNA的新方法，在pH＝6.5条件下，hsDNA、ctDNA和smDNA的浓度与荧光素-中性红体系的荧光比值变化量Δ(Fd／Fa)成线性关系，响应线性范围分别为0．25-6．25μg／mL、0．10-5．00μg／mL、0．10-4．00μg／mL，0.025μg/mL和0．023μg／mL；分析测定了DNA合成样品，回收率91．3％-101．4％，相对标准偏差小于4．2％．     

沙菜属经济藻类氨基酸与微量元素研究

首次报道了沙菜属Ｈｙｐｅｎａ３种经济藻类的１６种氨基酸和１２种元素的住房及其测定方法，还报道了沙菜属藻类无机元素和氨基酸的特征谱，以显示本属藻类的特片和属间种间的区别。     

Application of the Severity Factor and HMF Removal of Red Macroalgae Gracilaria verrucosa to Production of Bioethanol by Pichia stipitis and Kluyveromyces marxianus with Adaptive Evolution

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Gracilaria verrucosa, red seaweed, is a promising biomass for bioethanol production due to its high carbohydrate content. The optimal hyper thermal (HT)...     

Making More Extensive Use of the Coupled-cluster Wave Function: from the Standard Energy Expression to the Energy Expectation Value

The standard coupled-cluster (CC) scheme with single and double excitations in the cluster operator (CCSD) includes only up to quadruple excitations in the equations. The CCSD exponential expansion generates, however, all possible excitations out of the reference function through products of the cluster operators. Clearly, in all standard approximate CC approaches only a part of the CC wave function is used in the equations. If the standard CCSD wave function is inserted into the energy expectation value expression then the complete CCSD wave function contributes to the energy. Such an energy expectation value expression can be presented as a sum of the standard CCSD energy formula plus correction terms. The correction terms provide an information about the quality of the total CC function. Contributions associated with the presence of higher than double excitations in the bra CCSD wave function supplement the CCSD energy obtained within the standard scheme. These contributions can be generated in a sequential way by considering intermediate excitation levels for the bra CCSD wave function in the expectation value expression before reaching the highest excitation level. In this way the importance of particular components differing in the standard and expectation value CCSD energies can be investigated. Some of the contributions can be recognized as close to or identical with the so-called renormalized noniterative corrections to the CC methods. We try to see to what an extent the nonstandard energy expressions, like the energy expectation value or the asymmetric energy formula, can be used to extend the applicability of the CCSD method illustrating our considerations with some numerical examples.Dedicated to Professor Jean-Paul Malrieu to honor his contribution to quantum chemistry and physics     

Effects of Ultraviolet Radiation (UVA + UVB) on Germination of Carpospores of the Red Macroalga Pyropia acanthophora var. brasiliensis (Rhodophyta,Bangiales): Morphological Changes

Carpospores of Pyropia acanthophora var. brasiliensis are dispersion and reproduction units responsible for giving rise to the diploid filamentous structure of this alga's life cycle. The present study assesses the anthropogenic impact of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) on morphology and ultrastructure, spore viability, autofluorescence of chloroplasts and the amount of intensity of ROS during the germination of carpospores. Carpospores were cultivated at 24 ± 1°C, 40 ± 10 μmol photons m^?2 s^?1 with photoperiod of 12 h and exposed to UVAR + UVBR for 3 h a day for 2 days with a daily dose of 5.05 J cm^?2 for UVAR and 0.095 J cm^?2 for UVBR. Samples were cultured for another five days exposed only to PAR in order to confirm their viability after the initial 2‐day exposure. Carpospores showed significant sensitivity to UVR exposure after only 48 h, including changes in developmental rate, overall morphology, cell organization and chloroplast autofluorescence. UVR exposure inhibited germ tube formation in carpospores, which were mostly nonviable and/or altered, showing retracted cytoplasm and disorganized cytoplasmic content. Even in the absence of UVR exposure, carpospores remained collapsed, indicating irreversible damage. It can be concluded that UVR is a limiting factor for the development of P. acanthophora.     

Inhibition of photosynthetic electron transport by UV-A radiation targets the photosystem II complex

We have studied the inhibition of photosynthetic electron transport by UV-A (320-400 nm) radiation in isolated spinach thylakoids. Measurements of Photosystem II (PSII) and Photosystem I activity by Clark-type oxygen electrode demonstrated that electron flow is impaired primarily in PSII. The site and mechanism of UV-A induced damage within PSII was assessed by flash-induced oxygen and thermoluminescence (TL) measurements. The flash pattern of oxygen evolution showed an increased amount of the S0 state in the dark, which indicate a direct effect of UV-A in the water-oxidizing complex. TL measurements revealed the UV-A induced loss of PSII centers in which charge recombination between the S2 state of the water oxidizing complex and the semireduced Q(A)- and Q(B)- quinone electron acceptors occur. Flash-induced oscillation of the B TL band, originating from the S2Q(B)- recombination, showed a decreased amplitude after the second flash relative to that after the first one, which is consistent with a decrease in the amount of Q(B)- relative to Q(B) in dark adapted samples. The efficiency of UV-A light in inhibiting PSII electron transport exceeds that of visible light 45-fold on the basis of equal energy and 60-fold on the basis of equal photon number, respectively. In conclusion, our data show that UV-A radiation is highly damaging for PSII, whose electron transport is affected both at the water oxidizing complex, and the binding site of the Q(B) quinone electron acceptor in a similar way to that caused by UV-B radiation.