Synchrotron radiation analysis in the study of pollution in the ring‐billed gull (larus delawarensis): a novel application of the technique

Synchrotron radiation analysis is a powerful tool for identifying pollutants. Here, we explore the distribution of elements in the flight feathers of ring‐billed gulls, Larus delawarensis, to identify potential pollutants and their distribution throughout the feather. Our analysis using Synchrotron Radiation Analysis and Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy has identified a variety of metals that are integral parts of the feather structure including: calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr), zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe). The darker portions of the flight feather were enriched with Zn and Fe, which supports the suggestion that feather melanins are efficient ligands of some metals found in the environment, sequestering potentially harmful particles away from the body. However, trace lead (Pb) acquired from the regional pollution was detected only in females, and it was distributed across both the melanized and non‐melanized portions of the feather suggesting that only some metals are efficiently sequestered by melanins. Overall this study highlights a potential method for identifying pollutants using bird feathers, which has broader implications on environmental sensing as well as avian and human health. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Determination of formaldehyde and cyanide ion in human nasal discharge by using simple spectrophotometric methods

Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) contains many toxic compounds which include substances classified as aldehydes (e.g. formaldehyde) and inorganic substances such as cyanide ions. The information on the determination of these compounds in water is available, but the monitoring data on the level of these substances in human body fluids are still lacking. In this work the procedure for determining cyanide ions and formaldehyde in samples of human nasal discharge by simple spectrophotometric technique is presented.     

Enantioselective straightforward access to benzo[b]thiophene analogs of Azatoxin

Horner-Wadsworth Emmons olefination followed by asymmetric hydrogenation allowed the first synthetic access to the chiral thiotryptophan with good enantiomeric excess. Oxazolidinone formation followed by a Pictet–Spengler condensation provided the benzothiophenic analog of Azatoxin.     

Total synthesis of cirsimarin and evidence of its lipolytic and antilipogenic activities on human adipocytes

A straightforward procedure leading to the flavone cirsimaritin and its 4′-O-β-d-glycosylation to afford cirsimarin, its corresponding flavone glucopyranoside, is described. The biological properties of cirsimarin, measured on human adipocytes, showed potent effects on both lipolysis and lipogenesis. Cirsimarin could therefore be considered as an efficient tool in the struggle against excessive adipose tissue deposition and as a potential candidate in the treatment of obesity.