Palladium on magnetic Irish moss: A new nano‐biocatalyst for suzuki type cross‐coupling reactions

A novel heterogeneous magnetic palladium nano‐biocatalyst was designed by utilizing Irish moss, a family of sulfated polysaccharides extracted from algae, as a natural biopolymer. This magnetic Irish moss decorated with palladium (Pd–Fe₃O₄@IM) to form a biomagnetic catalytic system was synthesized and well characterized by FT–IR analysis, X‐ray powder diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, atomic absorption spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The catalyst was stable to air and moisture and displayed high catalytic activity in ligand‐free Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling reactions conducted under green chemistry reaction conditions. The aromatic ketones are produced by the cross‐coupling reaction between acid chlorides and aryl boronic acid derivatives in high yields.     

Dune morphodynamics

The physics of dunes relies on the interaction between a wind flow and an erodible topography. Thus, if strong enough to transport grains, the wind shapes sandy areas into dune fields. These dunes are reminiscent of a wavy sea so that sandy deserts are called sand seas. However, the comparison stops there. Contrary to water waves, dunes propagate only under wind action and when the wind stops, they do not vanish but stand. Consequently, dunes are not only the result of the present winds, but can integrate the wind regimes over long periods. Thus, they exhibit a range of shapes and sizes with superimposed patterns. They are witnesses of past wind regimes and their shape and orientation are used to constraint climatic models on other planetary bodies where they are observed as well (e.g., Mars, Titan and Venus). Here, we discuss the morphodynamics of dunes and endeavor to identify and to explain the physical mechanisms at play in the selection of their shape, size and orientation, whilst focusing on Earth desert sand dunes.     

Seasonal variability of cloud optical depth over northwestern China derived from CERES/MODIS satellite measurements

The seasonal variability of cloud optical depth over northwestern China derived from Clouds and the Earth＇s Radiant Energy System （CERES） Single Scanner Footprint （SSF） Aqua Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer （MODIS） Edition IB data from July 2002 to June 2004 is presented. The regions of interest are those with Asia monsoon influence, the Tianshan and Qilian Mountains, and the Taklimakan Desert. The results show that the instantaneous measurements presented here are much higher than the previous results derived from International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project （ISCCP） D2 monthly mean data. Generally the measurements of cloud optical depth are the highest in summer and the lowest in winter, however, Taklimakan Desert has the lowest measurements in autumn. The regional variation is quite significant over northwestern China.     

气相色谱-质谱法分析橡苔浸膏中的挥发性化学成分

用挥发油提取器提取橡苔浸膏中的挥发油 ,利用气相色谱 -质谱法 ( GC- MS)分析了其中的化学成分 ,采用GC峰面积归一化法定量 ,鉴定出 2 4种化合物 ,共占挥发油总量的 83%以上     

Influence of the vertical profile of Saharan dust on the visible direct radiative forcing

The vertical profile of Saharan dust in the atmosphere is generally characterized by a large aerosol concentration in the mid troposphere, differently from the climatological distribution of other types of particles, that show a peak at the surface and a rapid decrease with height. Saharan dust is also characterized by particles of relatively large size of irregular shape, and variable values of the single scattering albedo (the ratio between radiation scattering and extinction). The dust's peculiar vertical distribution is expected to produce an effect on the calculation of the direct aerosol radiative forcing at the surface and at the top of the atmosphere. This effect is investigated by comparing estimates of aerosol direct visible radiative forcing at the surface and at the top of the atmosphere for dust vertical profiles measured in the Mediterranean, and for the climatological profile. The radiative forcing is estimated by means of an accurate radiative transfer model, and for the ocean surface. The sensitivity of the results on the solar zenith angle, aerosol optical depth, and aerosol absorption is also investigated. The aerosol radiative forcing at the surface shows a very small dependency on the aerosol vertical profile. At the top of the atmosphere, the radiative forcing is weakly dependent on the vertical profile (up to 10% variation on the daily average forcing) for low absorbing particles; conversely, it shows a strong dependency (the daily radiative forcing may vary up to 100%) for absorbing particles. The top of the atmosphere visible radiative forcing efficiency produced by dust having single scattering albedo <0.7 is higher by 4 W m⁻² when the observed vertical profile instead of the standard profile is used in the calculations (i.e. it produces a lower cooling). For values of the single scattering albedo around 0.67, the sign of the forcing depends on the vertical profile. The influence of the vertical distribution on the radiative forcing is largest at small values of the solar zenith angle, and at short wavelengths.     

Using the natural 15N abundance to assess the main nitrogen inputs into the sand dune area of the North-Western Negev desert (ISRAEL)

The variation of the natural ¹⁵N abundance is often used to evaluate the origin of nitrogen or the pathways of N input into ecosystems. We tried to use this approach to assess the main input pathways of nitrogen into the sand dune area of the north-western Negev Desert (Israel). The following two pathways are the main sources for nitrogen input into the system:

1. Biological fixation of atmospheric nitrogen by cyanobacteria present in biological crusts and by N₂-fixing vascular plants (e.g. the shrub Retama raetam);

2. Atmospheric input of nitrogen by wet deposition with rainfall, dry deposition of dust containing N compounds, and gaseous deposition.

Samples were taken from selected environmental compartments such as biological crusts, sand underneath these crusts (down to a depth of 90?cm), N₂-fixing and non-N₂-fixing plants, atmospheric bulk deposition as well as soil from arable land north of the sandy area in three field campaigns in March 1998, 1999 and 2000. The δ¹⁵N values measured were in the following ranges: grass ?2.5‰ to +1.5‰; R. reatam: +0.5‰ to +4.5‰; non-N₂-fixing shrubs +1‰ to +7‰; sand beneath the biological crusts +4‰ to +20‰ (soil depth 2–90?cm); and arable land to the north up to 10‰. Thus, the natural ¹⁵N abundance of the different N pools varies significantly. Accordingly, it should be feasible to assess different input pathways from the various ¹⁵N abundances of nitrogen. For example, the biological N fixation rates of the Fabaceae shrub R. reatam from the ¹⁵N abundances measured were calculated to be 46–86% of biomass N derived from the atmosphere. The biological crusts themselves generally show slight negative ¹⁵N values (?3‰ to ?0.5‰), which can be explained by biological N fixation. However, areas with a high share of lichens, which are unable to fix atmospheric nitrogen, show very negative values down to ?10‰. The atmospheric N bulk deposition, which amounts to 1.9–3.8?kg?N/ha?yr, has a ¹⁵N abundance between 4.4‰ and 11.6‰ and is likely to be caused by dust from the arable land to the north. Thus, it cannot be responsible for the very negative values of lichens measured either. There must be an additional N input from the atmosphere with negative δ¹⁵N values, e.g. gaseous N forms (NO _x , NH₃). To explain these conflicting findings, detailed information is still needed on the wet, particulate and gaseous atmospheric deposition of nitrogen.     

三种典型荒漠植物生长期光谱特征变化分析

荒漠植物长势、变化、演替是反映荒漠地区生境状况的重要指标。目前荒漠植物监测与光谱研究多基于定时采样数据,波谱时序动态研究相对薄弱。荒漠植物光谱因受时间尺度影响,常引起辨识误差。将荒漠植物中最具代表性的灌木--柽柳、白刺、梭梭作为样本,旨在揭示三种荒漠植物光谱生长期变化规律及种间动态分异特征,为荒漠植被空间遥感辨析奠定基础。实验选取旺盛植株采集生长期内(5月-10月份)光谱数据,对不同月份植物光谱曲线分析比较并剖析机理,得出荒漠植物生长期光谱特征变化规律及其物候现象对应波谱表现。结论指出：(1)三种荒漠植物反射率曲线总体特征均符合绿色植被波谱规律,可观察到较明显的12峰谷分布,红边斜率与面积从大到小分别为：梭梭、柽柳、白刺。其光谱曲线峰谷幅度值相对较小,且变化较快,红边参数表现活跃期分别为柽柳8月、白刺10月、梭梭9月。(2)荒漠植物的光谱变化与植物本身物候特征、气候变化植物响应密切相关。光谱特征在可见光波段与营养期、花期、落叶期有一定响应关系;近红外波段与结实期、休眠期、降雨情况相关;短波红外波段与营养期、落叶期、降雨状况呈现关联性。(3)7月份三种植物的生长状况差异光谱曲线表现为：衰败植株地物光谱反射率可见光、短波红外波段呈高反射,近红外波段反射减弱,趋近于土壤光谱反射率曲线。     

ICP-AES法测定内蒙古地区六种沙生木本植物中金属元素

采用ICP-AES法分别对内蒙古地区梭梭、小叶锦鸡儿、沙冬青、红柳、沙枣和沙柳等六种沙生木本植物中金属元素进行了测定和分析。该方法的加标回收率为94.98％～120.25％,RSD＜3.4％,具有良好的准确度和精密度。结果表明,常量元素Ca,K,Mg,Na,Al及植物生命活动所必需的微量元素Fe,Mn,Cu,Zn在六种沙生木本植物中表现为不同的含量顺序,且Fe,Mn,Cu,Zn四种元素的含量均低于陆生高等植物的平均含量。该测定结果为改善西部地区生态环境,选择优良防风固沙树种提供可靠的数据和理论依据。     

Saharan dust electrification perceived by a triangle of atmospheric electricity stations in Southern Portugal

Atmospheric Electric Potential Gradient (PG) measurements were carried out in three sites forming a triangular array in Southern Portugal. The campaign was performed during the summer, characterized by Saharan dust outbreaks; 16th–17th July 2014 dust event is considered. Short time-scale oscillations of the PG at two of the stations and a mid time-scale suppression of the PG in the three stations are found. Results are interpreted as evidencing long-range dust electrification; attributed to the air-Earth electrical current creating a bipolar charge distribution inside of the dust layer. The relevance of using arrays of sensors, instead of single sited, is highlighted.     

Bioactive principles in exudate gel from the leaf of Aloe fleurentiniorum,traditionally used as folkloric medicine by local people of Aridah and Fayfa mountains,Saudi Arabia

Aloe fleurentiniorum is a desert plant that is occasionally used to treat wounds by local people of Aridah and Fayfa mountains in Saudi Arabia. However, medicinal value of the plant has not been scientifically established. The purpose of this study was to determine the bioactive phytocomponents contained in the exudate gel (EG) from the leaves of Aloe fleurentiniorum using GC–MS and FT-IR studies, as well as antibacterial assays. Medicinally important bioactive compounds were identified using GC–MS analysis. The bioactive compounds are “pregn-5-ene-3α,20-diol”, “16α-methyl-pregnane-11,20-dione”, “3-hydroxy-(3α,5α)-, ursodeoxycholic acid”, “1-heptatriacotanol”, “allopregnane-7α,11α-diol-3,20-dione”, “D-arabino-hexopyranoside”, “2-octadecenoic acid methyl ester”, “D-ribo-hexose,2,6-dideoxy-3-O-methyl glucosamine”, “N-acetyl-N-benzoyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside”, “nonyl 1-thio pregnenolone”, “5-cholestene-3-ol, 24-methyl-cholestanol”, and “D-allose hexadecanoic acid methyl ester”. Furthermore, specific groups and their respective chemical compounds were identified via FT-IR spectroscopy studies. The FT-IR spectroscopy of EG showed various functional groups at 3354, 2945, 2832, 2523, 2046, 1707, 1451, 1108, 1031, 880, 737 and 610 cm⁻¹. The FT-IR peaks revealed the likely presence of various compounds such as glycosides, flavonoids, steroids, saponins, flavonoids, amino sugars, cutin and isothiocyanate. Moreover, EG produced a wide range of antibacterial effects on some screened human pathogenic bacteria.