Trace Elements in Pleurotus Ostreatus,P. Eryngii,and P. Nebrodensis Mushrooms Cultivated on Various Agricultural By-Products

Abstract

Mushrooms are efficient accumulators of essential and toxic elements. Although oyster (Pleurotus spp.) mushrooms are widely commercialized and consumed, few data exist regarding trace elements content and bioaccumulation in cultivated P. ostreatus and P. eryngii, while no data are available for P. nebrodensis. The contents of Al, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, K, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sr, V, and Zn were monitored using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and atomic emission spectrometry (AES) in P. ostreatus, P. eryngii, and P. nebrodensis mushrooms and their cultivation substrates that include wheat straw (WHS), grape marc (GMC), olive leaves (OLV), and two-phase olive mill wastes (OMW), separately or in mixtures. Bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) less than 0.3 were obtained for Al, Ba, Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, and V; BAFs exceeding 1 for K?>?Zn?>?Cd?>?Cr?>?Rb?>?As, while the BAFs for Na were less 0.7. Mushrooms grown on OLV and OMW presented lower BAFs than those grown on WHS and GMC for all elements except for K, Cd, and Cu. P. ostreatus was an effective accumulator for Cr, Fe, and Zn; P. eryngii for Al, Cs, Ni, and V; and P. nebrodensis for As and Cd. The estimated daily intakes (μg kg^?1 body weight) from mushroom consumption were less than 0.010 for As, Cd, Co, Cs, Pb, and V, 0.010–0.10 for Ba, Cr, Ni, and Sr, 0.10–5.0 for Al, Cu, Fe, Mn, Rb, and Zn, 65–83 for Na, and 858–1030 for K. Overall, the mushrooms studied provide significant amounts of K, adequate amounts of Mn and Zn and low amounts of Na and toxic elements.     

Single photon absorption by a single quantum emitter

We show that a three-level lambda quantum emitter with equal spontaneous emission rates on both optically active transitions can absorb an incident single-photon pulse with a probability approaching unity, provided that the focused light profile matches that of the emitter dipole emission. Even with realistic focusing geometries, our results could find applications in long-distance entanglement of spin qubits.     

Platinum(II) and platinum(IV) complexes of 2-amino-4, 6-dimethylpyrimidine

Summary Platinum(II) and platinum(IV) complexes of 2-amino-4, 6-dimethylpyrimidine, ADMPY, have been prepared. Solids of formula Pt(ADMPYH⁺)Cl₃, Pt(ADMPY)₂Cl₄ and Pt(ADMPY)₂Cl₄·2HCl have been isolated and characterized by elemental analyses in conjuction with i.r. and n.m.r. spectra. A paramagnetic tan to reddishbrown complex has been reproducibly prepared from the direct reaction of K₂PtCl₄ and ADMPY at pH 6.     

Application of solid-phase microextraction in the monitoring of priority pesticides in the Kalamas River (N.W. Greece)

A solid-phase microextraction (SPME) method was applied to an extended monitoring survey of priority pesticides for the European Union for a period of 12 months in water of the Kalamas River (Epirus region of northwestern Greece) in order to determine their concentrations and seasonal variations. Polydimethylsiloxane-coated fiber (100 microm) was used. The samples were screened using gas chromatography with flame thermionic detection. Detection was confirmed by gas chromatographymass spectroscopy. The most frequently detected pesticides were some of the more commonly used herbicides, such as S-ethyl-N,N-di-n-propylthiol carbamate (EPTC), trifluralin, atrazine, deethylatrazine, terbuthylazine and alachlor, and insecticides, such as carbofuran, diazinon, disulfoton, parathion methyl, parathion ethyl, fenthion and ethion. Concentrations of individual compounds ranged from 0.020 to 0.3 microg/L. Greater pesticide concentrations occurred during the seasons of application. A comparison with a well-established solid-phase extraction (C18 disks) procedure was performed for samples of high-season application (May-September) in order to confirm the effectiveness of the SPME technique. The results demonstrate the suitability of the SPME method for routine screening multiresidue analysis in natural waters.     

Organotin flufenamates: Synthesis, characterization and antiproliferative activity of organotin flufenamates

The organotin flufenamates [Me₂(flu)SnOSn(flu)Me₂]₂ (1), [Bu₂(flu)SnOSn(flu)Bu₂]₂ (2) and [Bu₂Sn(flu)₂] (3) have been prepared and structurally characterized by means of vibrational and NMR (¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn) spectroscopy. The crystal structure of [Me₂(flu)SnOSn(flu)Me₂]₂ (1) has been determined by X-ray crystallography. Three distannoxane rings are present to the dimeric tetraorganodistannoxane of planar ladder arrangement. The structure is centro-symmetric and features a central rhombus Sn₂O₂ unit with two additional tin atoms linked at the O atoms. Six-coordinated tin centers are present in the dimer distannoxane. This structure is self-assembled via π → π and C-H → π stacking interactions. Flufenamic acid and flufenamates were evaluated for antiproliferative activity in vitro. Among the compounds tested [Bu₂(flu)SnOSn(flu)Bu₂]₂ (2) and [Bu₂Sn(flu)₂] (3) exhibited high cytotoxic activity against the cancer cell line A549 (non-small cell lung carcinoma).     

Exciton states of dynamic DNA double helices: alternating dCdG sequences

The present communication deals with the excited states of the alternating DNA oligomer (dCdG)5.(dCdG)5 which correspond to the UV absorption band around 260 nm. Their properties are studied in the frame of the exciton theory, combining molecular dynamics simulations and quantum chemistry data. It is shown that the dipolar coupling undergoes important variations with the site and the helix geometry. In contrast, the energy of the monomer transitions within the double helix is not sensitive to the local environment. It is thus considered to be distributed over Gaussian curves whose maximum and width are derived from the experimental absorption spectra of nucleosides in aqueous solution. The influence of the spectral width on the excited state delocalization and the absorption spectra is much stronger than that of the oligomer plasticity. About half of the excited states are delocalized over at least two bases. Many of them result from the mixing of different monomer states and extend on both strands. The trends found in the simulated spectra, when going from non-interacting monomers to the duplex, are in agreement with experimental observations. Conformational changes enhance the diversity of the states which can be populated upon excitation at a given energy. The states with larger spatial extent are located close to the maximum of the absorption spectrum.     

Intensified biochip system using chemiluminescence for the detection of Bacillus globigii spores

This paper reports the first intensified biochip system for chemiluminescence detection and the feasibility of using this system for the analysis of biological warfare agents is demonstrated. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay targeting Bacillus globigii spores, a surrogate species for Bacillus anthracis, using a chemiluminescent alkaline phosphatase substrate is combined with a compact intensified biochip detection system. The enzymatic amplification was found to be an attractive method for detection of low spore concentrations when combined with the intensified biochip device. This system was capable of detecting approximately 1 × 10⁵ Bacillus globigii spores. Moreover, the chemiluminescence method, combined with the self-contained biochip design, allows for a simple, compact system that does not require laser excitation and is readily adaptable to field use. Figure Schematic diagram of the miniature biochip detection system     

Time-resolved study of thymine dimer formation

The formation of thymine dimers in the single-stranded oligonucleotide, (dT)20, is studied at room temperature by laser flash photolysis using 266 nm excitation. It is shown that the (6-4) adduct is formed within 4 ms via a reactive intermediate. The formation of cyclobutane dimers is faster than 200 ns. The overall quantum yield for the (6-4) formation is (3.7 +/- 0.3) x 10-3, and that of the cyclobutane dimers is (2.8 +/- 0.2) x 10-2. No triplet absorption is detected, showing that either the intersystem crossing yield decreases by 1 order of magnitude upon oligomerization (<1.4 x 10-3) or the triplet state reacts with unit efficiency in less than 200 ns to yield cyclobutane dimers.     

Cerium Chloride-Catalyzed Addition of Grignard Reagents to Vinylogous Esters: An Improved Route to 3-Substituted Cyclopent-2-en-1-ones

Addition of Grignard reagents to vinylogous esters in the presence of cerium chloride results in an improved one-pot synthesis of 3-substituted cyclopent-2-en-1-ones