THE ROLE OF SOLAR ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION IN 'NATURAL' WATER PURIFICATION

Abstract— The concentration of Escherichia coli in the input and output of a tertiary wastewater system (4 lagoons) has been monitored over an 11 month period. The integrated flux of biologically active solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation was measured during this period. By also determining (1) the effective temperature in the system, (2) the growth rate of E. coli at the effective temperature, (3) the penetration of the solar UV into the lagoons, (4) the dose-response relation for killing of E. coli by UV and (5) the retention time of water in the system, it is possible to compare the 'die off' expected from solar UV exposure to the actual 'die off' observed for different batches of water.
The observed killing of E. coli was quite close to the values calculated, considering the numerous factors involved. Solar UV light would thus seem to be a very important factor in the natural purification of water. Because each successful species must possess characteristics (physiological or behavioral) which provide adequate resistance to solar UV, the ecological role of solar UV radiation has not been widely appreciated.     

INHIBITION OF PHOTOTAXIS IN Volvox aureus BY NATURAL AND SIMULATED SOLAR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT

Exposure to artificial UV wavelengths and the UV component of sunlight delays positive phototaxis in the green alga Volvox aureus. Broad band wavelength filters were used to modify the output from UV-B sources (280-320 nm) and natural sunlight. The delay in phototaxis by artificial UV is increased with exposure to shorter UV-B wavelengths. Natural sunlight experiments were performed with exposure to full sunlight and to its UV component only. The UV component present in summer sunlight produced long periods of inhibition in phototaxis and even lethality, while exposure to the total spectrum of sunlight had no significant effects on movement or survival. The data indicate that although this species of alga is well equipped to deal with present levels of UV exposure, increases in the short UV-B wavelengths in sunlight may force an alteration in patterns of photomovement.     

Spontaneous waveguide Raman spectroscopy of self-assembled monolayers in silica micropores

Advances in nanoscience are critically dependent on the ability to control and probe chemical and physical phenomena in confined geometries. A key challenge is to identify confinement structures with high surface area to volume ratios and controlled surface boundaries that can be probed quantitatively at the molecular level. Herein we report an approach for probing molecular structures within nano- to microscale pores by the application of spontaneous Raman spectroscopy. We demonstrate the method by characterization of the structural features of picomole quantities of well-organized octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) monolayers self-assembled on the interior pore surfaces of high aspect ratio (1 μm diameter × 1-10 cm length), near-atomically smooth silica microstructured optical fibers (MOFs). The simple Raman backscattering collection geometry employed is well suited for a wide variety of diagnostic applications as demonstrated by tracking the combustion of the hydrocarbon chains of the OTS self-assembled monolayer (SAM) and spectral confirmation of the formation of an adsorbed monolayer of human serum albumin (HSA) protein. Using this MOF Raman approach, molecular processes in precisely defined, highly confined geometries can be probed at high pressures and temperatures, with a wide range of excitation wavelengths from the visible to the near-IR, and under other external perturbations such as electric and magnetic fields.     

Efficient palladium-catalyzed N-arylation of a sulfoximine with aryl chlorides

The efficient N-arylation of a sulfoximine with aryl chlorides was developed by using Pd(2)(dba)(3) as a catalyst and various ligands. The reactions using RuPhos as a ligand afforded the coupled products in fair to excellent yields.     

New chiral benzothiazine ligand and its use in the synthesis of a chiral receptor

The development of chiral ligands to direct the course and stereoselectivity of many catalytic asymmetric reactions is an important area of interest for many research groups. As part of a program examining the chemistry of 2,1-benzothiazines, we have prepared a new chiral benzothiazine ligand. This ligand can be made in as few as three steps from commercially available starting materials. Presented herein is the synthesis of the ligand along with the synthesis of a chiral molecular receptor that potentially presages a new class of chiral molecular tweezers.     

INHIBITION OF PHOTOTAXIS IN Volvox aureus BY NATURAL AND SIMULATED SOLAR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT

Abstract
Exposure to artificial UV wavelengths and the UV component of sunlight delays positive phototaxis in the green alga Volvox aureus. Broad band wavelength filters were used to modify the output from UV-B sources (280–320 nm) and natural sunlight. The delay in phototaxis by artificial UV is increased with exposure to shorter UV-B wavelengths. Natural sunlight experiments were performed with exposure to full sunlight and to its UV component only. The UV component present in summer sunlight produced long periods of inhibition in phototaxis and even lethality, while exposure to the total spectrum of sunlight had no significant effects on movement or survival. The data indicate that although this species of alga is well equipped to deal with present levels of UV exposure, increases in the short UV-B wavelengths in sunlight may force an alteration in patterns of photomovement.     

UV PHOTOBIOLOGY OF THE NEMATODE Caenorhabditis elegans: ACTION SPECTRA, ABSENCE OF PHOTOREACTIVATION and EFFECTS OF CAFFEINE

Action spectra for UV inactivation of reproduction in Caenorhabditis elegans have been obtained for strains N2 (wild-type) and rad-3 (radiation-sensitive). Use of a dye laser radiation source, providing high intensity in a narrow wavelength band, has permitted more detail (14 wavelengths between 260 and 320 nm) than available in the spectra for other multicellular organisms. Overall sensitivity of N2 is similar to that of wild-type Escherichia coli; that of rad-3 is 30-fold higher between 265 and 310 nm; relative sensitivity decreases above 310 nm but also seems to increase for irradiation below 265 nm. Tests for photoreactivation and for modification of survival by post-irradiation treatment with caffeine were negative.