Study on the characterization of lead (II) biosorption by fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus parasiticus</Emphasis>

The lead (II) biosorption potential of Aspergillus parasiticus fungal biomass has been investigated in a batch system. The initial pH, biosorbent dosage, contact time, initial metal ion concentrations and temperature were studied to optimize the biosorption conditions. The maximum lead (II) biosorption capacity of the fungal biosorbent was found as 4.02 × 10⁻⁴ mol g⁻¹ at pH 5.0 and 20°C. The biosorption equilibrium was reached in 70 min. Equilibrium biosorption data were followed by the Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) isotherm models. In regeneration experiments, no significant loss of sorption performance was observed during four biosorption-desorption cycles. The interactions between lead (II) ions and biosorbent were also examined by FTIR and EDAX analysis. The results revealed that biosorption process could be described by ion exchange as dominant mechanism as well as complexation for this biosorbent. The ion exchange mechanism was confirmed by E value obtained from D-R isotherm model as well.     

MgNb2O6 Modified K0.5Na0.5NbO3 Eco-Piezoceramics: Scalable Processing,Structural Distortion and Complex Impedance at Resonance

In this work, piezoceramics of the lead-free composition K_0.5Na_0.5NbO₃ with an increasing amount of MgNb₂O₆ (0, 0.5, 1, 2 wt.%) were prepared through conventional solid-state synthesis and sintered in air atmosphere at 1100 °C. The effect of magnesium niobate addition on structure, microstructure and piezoelectric properties was evaluated. The ceramics maintain the orthorhombic Amm2 phase for all compositions, while an orthorhombic Pbcm secondary phase was found for increasing the concentration of MgNb₂O₆. Our results show that densification of these ceramics can be significantly improved up to 94.9 % of theoretical density by adding a small amount of magnesium-based oxide (1 wt.%). Scanning electron microscopy morphology of the 1 wt.% system reveals a well-packed structure with homogeneous grain size of ∼2.72 μm. Dielectric and piezoelectric properties become optimal for 0.5–1.0 wt.% of MgNb₂O₆ that shows, with respect to the unmodified composition, either higher piezoelectric coefficients, lower anisotropy and relatively low piezoelectric losses (d₃₃=97 pC N⁻¹; d₃₁=−36.99 pC N⁻¹ and g₃₁=−14.04×10⁻³ mV N⁻¹; Q_p(d₃₁)=76 and Q_p(g₃₁)=69) or enhanced electromechanical coupling factors (k_p=29.06 % and k₃₁=17.25 %).     

Determination of Cd,Pb, and Cu in the Atmospheric Aerosol of Central East Antarctica at Dome C (Concordia Station)

Trace heavy metals Cd, Pb, and Cu were determined (by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry) in aerosol samples collected at Dome C (the Italo-French Station Concordia), a remote site of the Central East Antarctic plateau, for which no data are available until now. During the Austral Summer 2005–2006, three PM10 high-volume impactors were installed in two locations nearby of Concordia station: the first one very close and downwind of the station (about 50 m north), the other two (very close to each other) in a ‘distant’ site, upwind of the station and close to the astrophysics tent (not used in that expedition) at ~800 m south of Station Concordia. For each sample, the availability of the mass of the aerosol collected (obtained by differential weighing carried out on site), in addition to the volume of the filtered air, allowed us to express results both in terms of metal mass fractions in the aerosol and in the usual way of metal atmospheric concentrations. Metal contents increased in the order Cd < Pb < Cu with the following ranges of values: Cd 1.0–8.4 µg g⁻¹ (0.09–3.1 pg m⁻³), Pb 96–470 µg g⁻¹ (12–62 pg m⁻³), and Cu 0.17–20 mg g⁻¹ (0.027–2.4 ng m⁻³). From the metal temporal profiles obtained we estimated the following background values for the area of Dome C, expressed both in mass fractions and in atmospheric concentrations: Cd 1.2 ± 0.2 µg g⁻¹ (0.24 ± 0.13 pg m⁻³), Pb (here fixed as upper limit) 113 ± 13 µg g⁻¹ (21 ± 8 pg m⁻³), and Cu 0.91 ± 0.48 mg g⁻¹ (0.12 ± 0.07 ng m⁻³). The highest values were observed in the first part of the season, and particularly for the site close to the station, possibly related to sample contamination linked to intense activity at the Concordia station connected with the beginning of the expedition, including aircraft arrivals/departures. Increments of up to 10 times (and even 20 times for Cu) were recorded with respect to the background values. The metal excesses of the contaminated over background samples were found approximately, except for Cu, in the same proportion of the metal contents of the special Antarctic blend (SAB) diesel fuel, which is used almost exclusively at Concordia Station. The effect of the wind direction was also observed. Thus in the intermediate period of the campaign, when the wind direction reversed for several days with respect to the prevailing one, Cd and Pb metal contents decreased at the sampling point installed close to the station, now upwind of Concordia station, and increased at the ‘clean’ site astrophysics tent, turned downwind at the main station. No simple and easily interpretable effect of the wind direction was observed for Cu, which suggests that some other extemporaneous and not clearly identified factor may have intervened in this case. These results suggest that the human impact at Dome C influences mainly the zone very close to the station, but also the area in the neighborhood, including the supposed clean site of the astrophysics tent (about 800 m far from the station), when the wind direction reverses with respect to the prevailing one, leaving the site downwind of the station Concordia. Since no other data are reported for the Dome C area, our results are compared with literature data referred to the South Pole Station (the only other plateau site for which data are available) and several other coastal Antarctic sites, observing that our results (excluding Cu) are the lowest ever observed for Antarctic aerosol.     

Simultaneous Determination of Human Serum Albumin and Low-Molecular-Weight Thiols after Derivatization with Monobromobimane

Biothiols are extremely powerful antioxidants that protect cells against the effects of oxidative stress. They are also considered relevant disease biomarkers, specifically risk factors for cardiovascular disease. In this paper, a new procedure for the simultaneous determination of human serum albumin and low-molecular-weight thiols in plasma is described. The method is based on the pre-column derivatization of analytes with a thiol-specific fluorescence labeling reagent, monobromobimane, followed by separation and quantification through reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (excitation, 378 nm; emission, 492 nm). Prior to the derivatization step, the oxidized thiols are converted to their reduced forms by reductive cleavage with sodium borohydride. Linearity in the detector response for total thiols was observed in the following ranges: 1.76–30.0 mg mL⁻¹ for human serum albumin, 0.29–5.0 nmol mL⁻¹ for α-lipoic acid, 1.16–35 nmol mL⁻¹ for glutathione, 9.83–450.0 nmol mL⁻¹ for cysteine, 0.55–40.0 nmol mL⁻¹ for homocysteine, 0.34–50.0 nmol mL⁻¹ for N-acetyl-L-cysteine, and 1.45–45.0 nmol mL⁻¹ for cysteinylglycine. Recovery values of 85.16–119.48% were recorded for all the analytes. The developed method is sensitive, repeatable, and linear within the expected ranges of total thiols. The devised procedure can be applied to plasma samples to monitor biochemical processes in various pathophysiological states.     

The Physicochemical Characteristics of Gelam Honey and Its Outcome on the Female Reproductive Tissue of Sprague–Dawley Rats: A Preliminary Study

Gelam honey (GH) is a prized natural product synthesized from the nectar of flowers from Gelam trees (Melaleuca sp.). Gelam is an evergreen tree species that grows in tropical regions such as Malaysia. GH is a multifloral honey with proven antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the beneficial effect of GH on female reproductive tissue has yet to be substantiated. Herein, we investigated the effects of GH administration on the uterine and vaginal epithelial thickness of sexually mature Sprague–Dawley rats. Epithelia thickness could be an indicator of an atrophy manifesting as a symptom of a cardio syndrome. Rats were given oral doses of GH in four groups for 14 days; the lowest dose was 0.2 g GH/kg body weight (bw) rat/day and the highest dose was 8 g GH/kg bw rat/day. The physicochemical characteristics of GH were assessed through hydroxymethylfurfural and moisture content determination and sugar identification. GH attenuated the atrophy of the uterine and vaginal epithelia and increased the thickness of the endometrial stroma and endometrial surface endothelial layer. However, the dissonance observed in the effect of GH administration on the vaginal epithelium requires further investigation. Nevertheless, GH may have a strong potential in attenuating uterine and vaginal atrophies.     

Application of a new nanoporous sorbent for extraction and pre-concentration of lead and copper ions

The authors describe a method for the trace determination of copper (II) and lead (II) in water and fish samples using solid-phase extraction via siliceous mesocellular foam functionalised by dithizone. Siliceous mesocellular was functionalised with dithizone, and the resulting sorbent was characterised by scanning electron microscopy, surface area analysis, thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis and FTIR. Following solid-phase extraction of target ions by the sorbent, copper and lead ions were quantified by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Factors affecting the sorption and desorption of target ions by the sorbent were evaluated and optimised. The calibration plot is linear in the 1 – 500 μg L^?1 copper (II) and 3–700 μg L^?1 lead (II) concentration range. The relative recovery efficiency in real sample analysis is in the range from 96 to 102%, and precision varies between 1.7 and 2.8%. It is should be noted that the limits of detection for the copper and lead analysis were 0.8 and 1.6 μg L^?1, respectively. Also, the adsorption capacities for copper and lead ions were 120 and 160 mg g^?1, respectively. The obtained pre-concentration factor for the lead and copper ions by the proposed solid-phase extraction was 75. The method was successfully applied to the determination of low levels of copper (II) and lead (II) in tap, Caspian sea, Persian gulf and lake water and also their detection in fish samples.     

甲胺铅碘前驱体薄膜放置过程中物质结构演变及对后续钙钛矿薄膜的影响

系统研究了甲胺铅碘(MAPbI_3)前驱体薄膜在室温大气中放置过程的物质结构变化过程,发现甲胺铅碘前驱体进一步生成了更多的MAPbI_3钙钛矿,大约220 min后MAPbI_3钙钛矿不再增加而且仍有前驱体。此外还分析了这种结构演变对后续钙钛矿薄膜热退火结果的影响,发现放置后的甲胺铅碘前驱体薄膜退火过程中的X射线衍射强度和紫外-可见吸收均比新制备的薄膜的低,而且通过原子力表面形貌图的对比发现,放置后的薄膜热退火后的薄膜晶体尺寸远小于新制备的甲胺铅碘前驱体薄膜热退火后的晶体尺寸,放置后的薄膜晶体尺寸约为0.2μm,新制备的薄膜晶体尺寸约为1.1μm。主要原因在于:甲胺铅碘前驱体薄膜由于在室温大气中放置过程中多生成了部分甲胺铅碘(MAPbI_3),因此晶体成核数量较多,晶粒数量增加,晶体存在较多缺陷,薄膜结晶度低,所以退火时X射线衍射强度和光谱强度较低,同时晶粒尺寸变小。研究为探讨甲胺铅碘钙钛矿生成机理提供了新的思路和方向,属于甲胺铅碘钙钛矿薄膜性质的基础性研究,对实际生产和工业应用有一定指导意义。     

二维超高效液相色谱-三重四极杆/复合线性离子阱质谱联用快速测定全血和尿液中鱼藤酮

建立了采用二维超高效液相色谱-三重四极杆/复合线性离子阱质谱联用快速测定全血和尿液中鱼藤酮的检测方法。尿液经水等量稀释后直接进样分析;全血用乙腈沉淀除蛋白质,上清液用水稀释后进样分析。样品中的鱼藤酮被Cyclone柱保留并去除大分子杂质,然后再被流动相洗入第1维Kinetex Biphenyl色谱柱(联苯基核壳柱)进行分离,再将含有鱼藤酮的流分切割至第2维Acquity BEH C_8色谱柱上进行分离,采用多离子监测触发的增强子离子(MRM-IDA-EPI)扫描方式检测,溶剂标准外标法定量。全血和尿液中的平均加标回收率分别为84.6%~94.3%和88.4%~95.7%,相对标准偏差为2.6%~7.3%和2.8%~6.8%(n=6),方法的检出限为0.2和0.03μg/L。该方法已成功应用于鱼藤酮中毒样品的检测。     

Hydrothermal Synthesis and Phase‐, Morphology‐Evolution Mechanism of Lead Titanate Nanostructures Assisted with Tetramethylammonium Hydroxide

Lead titanate nanostructures with different phases and morphologies, layered hexagonal PbTiO₂(CO₃)_0.3‐ (NO₃)_0.35(OH) nanosheets, pyrochlore Pb₂Ti₂O₆ nanodendites, pre‐perovskite PbTiO₃ nanofibres and perovskite PbTiO₃ nanoplates, have been synthesized via a conventional hydrothermal route assisted with different concentrations of tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH). X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and high‐resolution TEM (HRTEM) were employed to characterize the phase, morphology and growth behavior of the synthesized samples. The results reveal that at low TMAH concentration the obtained samples are mainly of PbTiO₂(CO₃)_0.3(NO₃)_0.35(OH) nanosheets. With the TMAH concentration increasing, the obtained samples change to pyrochlore Pb₂Ti₂O₆ nanodendites, pre‐perovskite PbTiO₃ nanofibres and perovskite PbTiO₃ nanoplates in turn. With the basis of the experimental results, the phase‐ and morphology‐evolution mechanism of the lead titanate nanostructures is discussed by combining the analysis of the lattice structure feature and the properties of TMAH.     

血液自然分布单位全面血液关系流的实现与维护

在全面关系流管理理论的基础上,研究人体血液自然分布单位组织全面血液关系流的实现与维护.实现关系流应该从关系流的性质、时间约束、血液自然分布单位的状态与行为,以及可行性等方面综合考虑.当全面关系流建立起来后,人体组织就基于血液关系流建立起自然法则,当血液关系流不再适用时,相关的血液自然分布单位需进行关系流的再设计,以适应新的组织行为.