Alteration in photosystem II photochemistry of thylakoids isolated from senescing leaves of wheat seedlings

Wheat seedlings, grown for 7 days in the light, were allowed to senesce in the light or dark, and the change in the photosystem II (PS II) photochemistry of chloroplasts isolated from the primary leaves of these seedlings was investigated. The decrease in oxygen evolution and the fast fluorescence results indicated that the impairment of PS II in the leaves of seedlings senescing in the light was different from that in the leaves of seedlings senescing in the dark. Thermoluminescence studies showed a structural modification in the Q_B protein of chloroplasts isolated from leaves senescing in the light and an alteration in the S state transition of chloroplasts isolated from leaves senescing in the dark.     

The heat of dissolution of uranyl nitrate in aqueous nitrate solutions

Conclusions A model has been suggested to explain the observed relationship between the measured heats of dissolution of uranyl nitrate in aqueous nitrate solutions and the concentration of the salting-out agent. The model describes the change in the structure of water in the solution with change in its concentration. On the one hand, a destruction of the water structure by ions occurs, which is weakened with increase in the distance from the ion, and leads to such irregularity in the distribution of water molecules in the solution that the mean number of molecules of water in unit volume is increased with increase in the distance from the ions. In experiments on the heat of dissolution this increase leads to increased hydration of the uranyl cation and reduction in the endothermicity of the dissolution with increase in the concentration of the solution. On the other hand, an interaction occurs between the ions of the salting-out agent and the water molecules in the solution, leading to the opposite result: There is an increase in the mean number of water molecules of the solution in unit volume in the direction of these ions. In experiments on the heat of dissolution this is revealed in the dehydration of the uranyl cation, and correspondingly in an increase in the endothermicity of the dissolution with increase in the concentration of the solution. The proposed model is in harmony with data on vapor pressure above the solutions (the relationship between the activity coefficient of the water and the concentration of the solution).Translated from Zhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii. Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 143–150, March–April. 1962     

Grand canonical ensemble molecular dynamics simulation of water solubility in polyamide-6,6

Grand canonical ensemble molecular dynamics simulation is employed to calculate the solubility of water in polyamide-6,6. It is shown that performing two separate simulations, one in the polymeric phase and one in the gaseous phase, is sufficient to find the phase coexistence point. In this method, the chemical potential of water in the polymer phase is expanded as a first-order Taylor series in terms of pressure. Knowing the chemical potential of water in the polymer phase in terms of pressure, another simulation for water in the gaseous phase, in the grand canonical ensemble, is done in which the target chemical potential is set in terms of pressure in the gas phase. The phase coexistence point can easily be calculated from the results of these two independent simulations. Our calculated sorption isotherms and solubility coefficients of water in polyamide-6,6, over a wide range of temperatures and pressures, agree with experimental data.     

Independence of the lethal actions of glucocorticoids on lymphoid cells from possible hormone effects on calcium uptake

We have examined the possibility that hormone-induced increases in calcium uptake might initiate the lethal actions of glucocorticoids in two types of lymphoid cells. Hormone-induced increases in nuclear fragility are used as the measure of hormone action, since in both rat thymus cells and in mouse P1798 lymphosarcoma cells increased nuclear fragility (the inability of nuclei to survive lysis of the cells by hypotonic shock) precedes other indices of cellular deterioration by several hours. In the case of the tumor cells, those from corticosteroid-sensitive lines are less able to withstand incubation in vitro than resistant cells. Such differences in cell survival are predicted both by earlier changes in nuclear fragility and also by differences in calcium uptake. However, there is no detectable early glucocorticoid effect on calcium uptake that precedes or coincides with the substantial hormone-induced increases in nuclear fragility that develop in the sensitive cells by 2 h. In rat thymus cells the absence of calcium in the medium does prevent some of the increase in nuclear fragility and cell disintegration that occurs spontaneously during incubation in vitro. Nevertheless, when cells are exposed to hormones the glucocorticoid effect on nuclear fragility develops in the absence of calcium and is similar in magnitude to that seen in the presence of calcium. We conclude that calcium seems to enhance the spontaneous deterioration of lymphoid cells, and there is a large increase in calcium uptake that occurs as cells deteriorate. It nevertheless seems unlikely that hormone-induced changes in calcium uptake initiate the lethal actions of glucocorticoids. The data also support a proposal made earlier [2] that resistance to glucocorticoids in tumor cells may develop by the selection of cells with hardier membranes.     

微波制样的应用

介绍了微波制样在分析化学中的应用，包括微波试样消解，微波加热水样测定CODcr，微波加热水解蛋白质测定各种氨基酸，以及微波萃取等。特别是对微波试样消解在应用中的一些问题，作了较详细的叙述。     

基于MALDI质谱成像技术分析莲子中代谢物的组织分布

该文建立了一种可对莲子中多种代谢物进行高覆盖分析的基质辅助激光解吸附质谱成像(MALDI-MSI)方法,实现了莲子中生物碱类、黄酮类、氨基酸类、脂肪酸类、有机酸类、胆碱类、磷脂类等多种代谢物的组织原位可视化表征。结果表明,生物碱类代谢物主要分布在莲子胚芽中;黄酮类代谢物主要分布在莲子胚芽和种皮中;氨基酸类代谢物在莲子子叶中的含量显著高于莲子胚中;脂肪酸类代谢物在莲子不同组织中的分布差异很小;胆碱类代谢物在莲子胚芽和莲子子叶底部的含量更高,甘油磷酸胆碱在莲子子叶顶部的含量更高;有机酸类代谢物以及绝大多数磷脂类化合物在莲子子叶中的含量高于莲子胚。该研究为评价莲子药物质量、探究莲子中化合物的时-空代谢网络提供了新的技术支持。     

γ-irradiation of polypropylene in vacuum and in air

Polypropylene films were irradiated with ⁶⁰Co γ-rays in vacuum or in air and stored in air. Just after irradiation, the concentration of carbonyl group of the sample irradiated in air only increased with dose. The concentrations of both samples increased with storage time. The more the absorbed doses, the higher the increasing rates. The increasing rate of the concentration of carbonyl group during irradiation in air was higher than those during storage in air. Just after irradiation, the tensile strengths and the elongations of the both samples somewhat increased with dose at the doses less than 5 Mrad, but decreased at doses more than 13 Mrad. The tensile strength and the elongation of the sample irradiated in air decreased with storage time. Those of the sample irradiated in vacuum also decreased with storage time but the decreasing rates were much smaller than those in the sample irradiated in air. The gel fractions of the samples irradiated in vacuum and annealed in vacuum were somewhat higher than those irradiated in vacuum and not annealed. To elucidate high oxidation rate in the sample irradiated in air during and after irradiation, reaction mechanisms were discussed. To clarify the difference of mechanical properties between the samples irradiated in vacuum and in air, the effect of crosslink was considered, together with the oxidation.     

Molecular dynamics simulation studies of the conformation and lateral mobility of a charged adsorbate biomolecule: implications for estimating the critical value of the radius of a pore in porous media

The conformations, the values of the lateral transport coefficient of a charged biomolecule (desmopressin) in the adsorbed layer and in the liquid layers above the adsorbed layer, the potential energies of the interaction between the biomolecules located in different liquid layers with the charged solid surface and with the biomolecules in the adsorbed layer, the potential energies of the interaction between water molecules in the hydration layers surrounding the conformations of the biomolecules in different layers, as well as the structure and number of hydration layers between the different conformations of desmopressin, were determined by molecular dynamics simulation studies. The results show that the lateral mobility of the adsorbed desmopressin is approximately equal to zero and the value of the lateral transport coefficient of the biomolecule in the liquid layers located above the adsorbed layer increases as the distance of the liquid layer from the charged solid surface increases. But the values of the lateral transport coefficient of the biomolecule in the liquid layers above the adsorbed layer are lower in magnitude than the value of the transport coefficient of desmopressin along the direction normal to the charged solid surface in the liquid phase located above the vacant charged sites of the solid surface, and these differences in the values of the transport coefficients have important implications with respect to the replenishment of the biomolecules in the inner parts of a channel (pore), the overall rate of adsorption, and the form of the constitutive equations that would have to be used in macroscopic models to describe the mechanisms of mass transfer and adsorption in the pores of adsorbent media. Furthermore, a novel method is presented in this work that utilizes the information about the sizes of the conformations of the biomolecule in the adsorbed layer and in the liquid layers above the adsorbed layer along the direction that is normal to the charged solid surface, as well as the number and size of the hydration layers along the same direction, and could be used to estimate the value of the lower bound of the linear characteristic dimension of a pore (i.e., pore radius) in porous adsorbent media (e.g., porous adsorbent particles; skeletons of porous monoliths) in order to realize effective transport and overall adsorption rate.     

Study of the mobility of lattice oxygen in complex oxide catalysts for partial oxidation of propylene to acrolein

The amount of oxygen in the lattice of solids that participates in the elementary stages of partial propylene oxidation is determined for two types of Co-Mo-Bi-Fe-Sb-K-O catalysts (I, II) differing in the method of introduction of antimony and potassium. Two independent methods are used: (1) on the basis of the yield of the oxygen-containing products of propylene oxidation by oxygen of the catalyst in a pulse regime and (2) with the use of Möessbauer spectroscopy. Coincidence of the results obtained by both methods indicates that the active oxygen of the catalyst lattice is formed during redox transformations of iron(III) molybdate entering the composition of the catalysts. Data on the reduction of the catalysts in a pulse regime at various temperatures, which were processed in the framework of the diffusion model, allowed the estimation of the rate constants for diffusion of the lattice oxygen. An increase in the mobility of the lattice oxygen in catalyst I, which is modified with a small amount of antimony as compared to catalyst II, results in an increase in the overall productivity of the sample and in a decrease in the selectivity of propylene oxidation to acrolein. This correlates with the increase in the total amount of the lattice oxygen participating in the process.     

Organization of mixed monomolecular layers formed with the xanthophyll pigments lutein or zeaxanthin and dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine at the argon-water interface

Two-component monomolecular layers were formed with two xanthophyll pigments, lutein and zeaxanthin and dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), at the argon-water interface. Analysis of the mean molecular area parameters versus molar fraction of the xanthophyll component shows large overadditivity (ca. 50 A2 in the case of zeaxanthin and 150 A2 in the case of lutein) in the region of low molar fractions of carotenoids (maximum at 5 mol% in the case of zeaxanthin and at 20 mol% in the case of lutein). The experimental values of a mean molecular area are in good agreement with the values expected, based on the additivity rule at high molar percentages of the xanthophylls. Absorption spectroscopy of a single monolayer at the argon-water interface in the UV-Vis region has also been applied to analyze the formation of molecular assemblies of lutein in monomolecular films. The differences in the organization of lutein-DPPC and zeaxanthin-DPPC monolayers are interpreted in terms of the aggregation of xanthophyll pigments in the layers and different orientation of both xanthophylls at the interface. The results are discussed in relation to possible physiological functions of lutein and zeaxanthin in the membranes of the retina of an eye.     

Reactivity of carbocations from 1,2-dihydroquinolines in binary mixtures of methanol with pentane and acetonitrile

The rate constants and activation parameters of the reactions of the carbocation resulting from 6-ethoxy-1,2,2,4-tetramethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline photolysis with methanol (k ₁) and the methoxide ion (k ₂) have been measured by flash photolysis in binary mixtures of methanol with inert solvents (nonpolar pentane and polar acetonitrile) in wide composition ranges. The changes in the activation parameters for k ₁ at different solvent compositions show that the increase in the rate constant in the pentane mixtures is mainly deter-mined by the increase in the preexponential factor. The decrease in k ₁ in the acetonitrile mixtures is deter-mined by the decrease in the methanol concentration and by the increase in the activation energy. The different roles of the methoxide ion in the reaction are demonstrated. They depend on the nature of the inert solvent in the mixture. The results of this study are considered in terms of methanol clustering in pentane and acetonitrile, the different solubilities of 6-ethoxy-1,2,2,4-tetramethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline in the components of the binary mixtures, and the difference in distribution and solvation between the carbocation and the methoxide ion in the mixtures.     

Energy contribution of the solvent to the charge migration in DNA

The authors have investigated the interactions of the reaction centers, participating in the charge transfer reaction within the DNA molecule with the phosphate backbones and the solvent molecules, and have estimated the contribution of these interactions into the charge migration in DNA. They have determined the unequal shift of the energy surfaces of the initial and final transition states of the transfer reaction along the energy axis and the dependence of the magnitude of the energy shift on the nature of the reaction centers and the surrounding environment. The nonuniform distribution of the negative charge in the DNA phosphate backbones results in an increase of the positive shift of the energy surface of the DNA base pairs in the center of the structure, where the maximum density of the negative charge is concentrated. Localization of the positive charge on the guanine and the adenine in the DNA base pairs in the oxidized state results in a dependence of the free energy of reaction in the solvent on the pair sequences and their arrangement in the DNA chain. As an example, for the G-C/A-T configuration the positive charges are localized on the same strand that results in a decrease of the free energy of reaction in the solvent for charge migration from G-C to A-T pair by 0.125 eV.     

Simultaneous liquid chromatographic determination of 39 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in indoor and outdoor air and application to a survey on indoor air pollution in Fuji, Japan

An analytical method was established for the simultaneous determination of 39 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in air. The method was applied to a survey of gaseous and particulate PAHs in household indoor air. The survey was performed in 21 houses in the summer of 1999 and in 20 houses in the winter of 1999-2000 in Fuji, Japan. Thirty-eight PAHs were determined in indoor and outdoor air in the summer, and 39 PAHs were determined in indoor and outdoor air in the winter. The concentrations of gaseous PAHs in indoor air tended to be higher than those in outdoor air in the summer and winter. The concentrations of particulate PAHs in indoor air were the same as or lower than those in outdoor air in the summer and winter. PAH profiles, correlations between PAH concentrations, and multiple regression analysis were used to determine the factors affecting the indoor PAH concentrations. These results showed that gaseous PAHs in indoor air were primarily from indoor emission sources, especially during the summer, and that indoor particulate PAH concentrations were significantly influenced by outdoor air pollution.     

Diffusion in nanoporous phases: size dependence and levitation effect

Self-diffusivity, D, of diffusants in widely differing mediums such as liquids (e.g., solution), porous solids (e.g., guests in zeolites), or ions in polar solvents exhibit strong size dependence. We discuss the nature of the size dependence observed in these systems. Altogether, different theoretical approaches have been proposed to understand the nature of size dependence of D not only across these widely differing systems but even in just one medium or class of systems such as, for example, ions in polar solvents. But molecular dynamics investigations in the past decade have shown that the size dependence of self-diffusion in guest-porous solids could have origins in the mutual cancellation of forces that occurs when the size of the diffusant is comparable to the size of the void. The effect leading to the maximum in D is known as the levitation effect (LE). Such a cancellation is a consequence of symmetry. This effect exists in all porous solids irrespective of the geometrical and topological details of the pore network provided by the solid. Recent studies show that the levitation effect and size-dependent diffusivity maximum exists for uncharged solutes in solvents. One of the consequences of this is the breakdown in the Stokes-Einstein relationship over a certain range of solute-solvent size ratio. Experimental measurements of ionic conductivity over the past hundred years have found the existence of a size-dependent diffusivity maximum leading to violation of the Walden's rule for ions in polar solvents. Molecular dynamics simulations and experimental data suggest that even this maximum has its origin in LE. Simulation studies of impurity atom diffusion in close-packed solids as well as ions in superionic and other solids suggest the existence of a size-dependent diffusivity maximum in these materials as well. The levitation effect is a universal effect leading to a maximum in diffusivity of a diffusant in a variety of condensed matter phases. The only condition for its existence appears to be the presence of van der Waals or electrostatic interactions.     

Micellar medium effects on the hydrolysis of phenyl chloroformate in ionic,zwitterionic, nonionic,and mixed micellar solutions

The spontaneous hydrolysis of phenyl chloroformate was studied in various anionic, nonionic, zwitterionic, and cationic aqueous micellar solutions, as well as in mixed anionic–nonionic micellar solutions. In all cases, an increase in the surfactant concentration results in a decrease in the reaction rate and micellar effects were quantitatively explained in terms of distribution of the substrate between water and micelles and the first‐order rate constants in the aqueous and micellar pseudophases. A comparison of the kinetic data in nonionic micellar solutions to those in anionic and zwiterionic micellar solutions makes clear that charge effects of micelles is not the only factor responsible for the variations in the reaction rate. Depletion of water in the interfacial region and its different characteristics as compared to bulk water, the presence of high ionic concentration in the Stern layer of ionic micelles, and differences in the stabilization of the initial state and the transition state by hydrophobic interactions with surfactant tails can also influence reactivity. The different deceleration of the reaction observed in the various micellar solutions studied was discussed by considering these factors. Synergism in mixed‐micellar solutions is shown through the kinetic data obtained in these media. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 34: 445–451, 2002     

Poly(pyrroles) containing chiral side chains: effect of substituents on the chiral recognition in the doped as well as in the undoped state of the polymer film

The chiral discrimination of different poly(pyrroles) grafted by chiral side chains was investigated both in the doped and undoped state of the polymer films. To verify the enantioselective properties in the doped state, cyclic voltammograms were recorded in acetonitrile in the presence of the enantiomers of camphorsulfonic acid and the potentiodynamic polymerization of the appropriate monomers was performed using the same chiral electrolytes. The enantiomericrecognition in the undoped state was investigated by the application of these modified electrode surfaces in the enantioselective electroreduction of the prochiral ketones 4-methyl benzophenone and 2,5-dimethyl benzophenone. One polymer exhibits a recognition ability in the doped state; the investigation for the undoped state is in progress. A second polymer does not show enantioselective properties either in the doped nor in the undoped state. Electronic Publication     

Radiation grafting of vinyl monomers to wool. III. Location of the grafted polymer

Studies of properties such as water sorption of grafted wool have shown the importance of the location of the polymer in the fiber. Electron microscopy and low-angle x-ray diffraction studies have been used to determine the location of grafted polystyrene in wool. Samples grafted from 15 to 800% (dry weight increase) all exhibit a large increase in contrast in the cell membranes (IR) and nuclear-remnant regions (NR) in the electron micrographs. This is considered to be due in part to an unevenness in mechanical response to sectioning and in part to the deposition of ungrafted homopolymer in IR and NR, particularly at grafts of greater than about 100%. Analysis of the change in the 83 A. equatorial x-ray reflection suggests that most of the grafted polymer resides in the keratinous matrix regions between the microfibrils within the cortical cells. At larger grafts the wool still retains its basic histological character, but the increase in this spacing is no longer proportional to the amount of graft, and the desposition of polymer becomes very inhomogeneous.     

Time-resolved photocurrent generation in a photoelectrochemical cell with phthalocyanine

The kinetics of photocurrent generated in the photoelectrochemical cell (PEC) with phthalocyanine (Pc) dyes in the microsecond time scale was discussed. The shape of the kinetics is rather complex and it was discussed in terms of molecular phenomena and electrochemical processes occurring after laser flash illumination. Time constants were calculated from the photocurrent decay curves and at least three time components were well recognized (rise in 0.40 micros, declining in 0.40-0.45 micros and secondary increase in about 2 micros). The shape of the kinetics was discussed in terms of dye singlet and triplet state participation in photocurrent generation and also in terms of creation of the Helmholtz-Goy double layer at the dye layer-semiconductor interface. The alteration in shape of the Helmholtz-Goy double layer in photoelectrochemical cell after laser pulse was also discussed.     

EFFECT OF EXPOSURE TO LIGHT ON ENZYME ACTIVITIES and TRYPTOPHAN METABOLITES OF THE KYNURENINE PATHWAY IN WISTAR, IN HETEROZYGOUS and HOMOZYGOUS ADULT and NEWBORN GUNN RATS

Abstract— The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of phototherapy used in the treatment of hyperbilirubinemia in infants, on tryptophan metabolism and on enzyme activities involved along the kynurenine pathway in Wistar, icteric homozygous and nonicteric heterozygous Gunn rats after an intraperitoneal loading of 1.0 g/kg body weight L-tryptophan before and after exposure to visible light. The total mean 24-h excretion of the tryptophan metabolites in the groups of the Wistar and heterozygous Gunn rats was higher in females than in males and higher than in homozygous groups before phototherapy. Only after exposure to light did the groups of Wistar and heterozygous Gunn rats of both sexes show a decrease in the total excretion of the metabolites. The activities of tryptophan pyrrolase and kynureninase in liver and kynurenine aminotransferase in liver and kidneys were assayed in each group of rats. Male and female Wistar and heterozygous Gunn rats showed a higher activity of tryptophan pyrrolase than the groups of homozygotes in agreement with the data of the metabolites excreted. No difference in enzyme activities was found between the groups of heterozygous and homozygous neonates before and after phototherapy. Phototherapy did not seem to influence these enzyme activities.     

LD-2复合缓蚀剂对海水介质混凝土中钢筋阻锈作用研究

利用电化学检测技术和海水浸泡试验等方法 ,观测和研究了经筛选研制的LD_2复合缓蚀剂对海水介质中钢筋腐蚀电化学行为的影响 ,考察和评价了复合缓蚀剂对钢筋的阻锈作用 .结果表明 ,LD_2复合缓蚀剂主要起阳极型缓蚀剂作用 .在海水中加入 2 5 g·L- 1复合缓蚀剂后 ,钢筋的腐蚀电位提高约 0 .2 2 0V ,腐蚀电流降低至未加缓蚀剂的 1% ,缓蚀效率达 99% .钢筋混凝土试样在海水中浸泡 2年 ,表明混凝土中加入占水泥重量 1.0 %～ 2 .5 %LD_2复合缓蚀剂时 ,能有效阻止混凝土中钢筋的腐蚀