Throughfall quality and quantity in polluted and damaged ecosystems in Northern Bohemia

The interaction between high concentrations of polluting gases (SO₂ and NO_x) and damaged forest ecosystems was observed by studying throughfall precipitation in the Erzegebirge Mountains, Northern Bohemia. Qualitative and quantitative data on throughfall for the period November 1989–October 1990 are presented. Weighted averages of SO ₄ ^2? and NO ₃ ^? concentrations in the throughfall were 23.05 mg L^?1 and 13.61 mg L^?1 in a beech and 34.41 mg L^?1 and 11.03 mg L^?1 in a spruce forest respectively. Three variables (the molar ratios of K/Na, N_tot/S and N-NO₃/N-NE₄) were used to compare the spruce throughfall quality to that observed in areas with similar however, less damaged spruce stands. Both K/Na and N-NO₃/N-NH₄ ratios clearly decreased with increasing tree damage, the N_tot/S ratio increased. The results suggest that the throughfall in damaged ecosystems of the Erzegebirge region becomes more like a wet precipitation as the tree canopies get sparser and the trees reduce canopy leaching.     

Immediate Impact of the Flood (Bohemia, August 2002) on Selected Soil Characteristics

In August 2002 extreme floods affected Bohemia a part of the Czech Republic, along Vltava and Labe rivers. After the flood had culminated, soil samples of arable and meadow soil (flooded and control-non-flooded) have been collected in the surroundings of the cities of ?eské Budějovice (CB, South Bohemia, the Vltava river, the upper flood stream) and Ústí nad Labem (UL, the Labe river, the lower flood stream). Different parameters of arable soils have been affected more significantly than those of meadow soils. Soil texture e.g. has been shifted from sandy loam to loam (CB) and clay loam (UL). Organic carbon, total phosphorus and nitrogen contents have been increased as well as the content of some hazardous elements such as arsenic. A shift of soil pH from 6.1 to 4.8 has been noticed in CB and an opposite one from 5.1 to 7.1 was measured in UL. Available phosphorus decreased in CB by 56% while a four-fold increase was measured in UL. Chlorinated organic pesticides level was significantly reduced, but that of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) increased up to the maximum values of legal limits. The UL arable soil also became heavily contaminated by PAH. The CB arable soil demonstrated high microbial activity, while UL arable soil suffered under stress conditions in this respect. The flooded meadow soils became covered with a layer of drifted soil sediment, which retained enhanced content of the PAH's different hazardous elements, and, in addition, the soil aeration was reduced.     

Formation mechanism of p-methylacetophenone from citral via a tert-alkoxy radical intermediate

The aim of this study was to clarify the formation mechanism of a potent off-odorant, p-methylacetophenone, from citral under acidic aqueous conditions. An acidic aqueous solution (pH 3.0) containing 10 mg/L of citral was stored at 40 degrees C for 2 weeks. Among the compounds detected in the stored citral solution, 4-(2-hydroxy-2-propyl)benzaldehyde was identified for the first time as a degradation product from citral. The formation of p-methylacetophenone and 4-(2-hydroxy-2-propyl)benzaldehyde behaved the same when antioxidants were added to the citral solution. In addition, both compounds were formed by the Fe(2+)-induced decomposition of 8-hydroperoxy-p-cymene, another compound identified in the stored citral solution. These results suggested that both p-methylacetophenone and 4-(2-hydroxy-2-propyl)benzaldehyde can be formed via the same radical intermediate [p-CH3C6H4C(CH3)2O*] that can be derived from the O-O bond homolysis of 8-hydroperoxy-p-cymene. On the other hand, the degradation of 8-hydroperoxy-p-cymene without Fe2+ under acidic aqueous conditions did not yield p-methylacetophenone and 4-(2-hydroxy-2-propyl)benzaldehyde, but the degradation of citral without Fe2+ did. Therefore, other than the decomposition of 8-hydroperoxy-p-cymene, a mechanism to generate the tert-alkoxy radical intermediate was proposed for the formation of p-methylacetophenone and 4-(2-hydroxy-2-propyl)benzaldehyde in the citral solution.     

Phosphorus-use efficiency of kale genotypes from coastal Croatia

Understanding the mechanisms of phosphorus (P)-use efficiency (PUE) may contribute to enhancing crop P nutrition because species growth variability at low-P is well known. The experiment was carried out to evaluate the response of kale genotypes to different P supply in randomized block design in three replications. Low-P supply led to a decrease in most parameters, whereas an increase was recorded in root growth parameters. Genotypes differed in shoot dry weight (DW), leaf area, root length and area, and shoot and root P content and concentration. Root traits significantly positively correlated with PUE. Genotypes Red Russian (RR) and IJK 17 were superior in terms of shoot DW production at low P supply, and had the highest uptake efficiency. Genotypes IJK 17 and 81 had the highest P utilization efficiency, while Vates blue curled (VBC) showed the lowest PUE. Genotypes had similar shoot P content and concentration at low P supply, but large PUE differences, implying the importance of P utilization efficiency.     

Hepatoprotective and TNF-α inhibitory activity of Zosima absinthifolia extracts and coumarins

Zosima absinthifolia (ZA) extracts and the coumarins (+)-columbianadin and (-)-deltoin were evaluated for their potential hepatoprotective and antiinflamatory effects in a CCl(4)-induced hepatotoxicity assay in rats and by the inhibition of TNF-α production on LPS-stimulated THP-1 macrophages, respectively. Both the ZA extracts and the coumarins showed hepatoprotective activity confirmed by monitoring the ALT/AST levels and by histopathological examination. The antiinflamatory activity, proved by the inhibition of TNF-α production, was found to be higher for the n-hexane root extract than for coumarins, suggesting synergic potential of the extract. The concentration of (-)-deltoin and (+)-columbianadin in extracts was determined by HPLC analysis.     

Induction of apoptosis by the oolong tea polyphenol theasinensin A through cytochrome c release and activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3 in human U937 cells

This study examined the growth inhibitory effects of theasinensin A (from oolong tea) and black tea polyphenols, including theaflavin (TF-1), a mixture (TF-2) of theaflavin-3-gallate (TF-2a) and theaflavin-3'-gallate (TF-2b), and theaflavin-3,3'-digallate (TF-3) in human cancer cells. Theasinensin A, TF-1, and TF-2 displayed strong growth inhibitory effects against human histolytic lymphoma U937, with estimated IC50 values of 12 microM, but were less effective against human acute T cell leukemia Jurkat, whereas TF-3 and (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) had lower activities. The molecular mechanisms of tea polyphenol-induced apoptosis as determined by annexin V apoptosis assay, DNA fragmentation, and caspase activation were further investigated. Loss of membrane potential and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation were also detected by flow cytometry. Treatment with tea polyphenols caused rapid induction of caspase-3, but not caspase-1, activity and stimulated proteolytic cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Pretreatment with a potent caspase-3 inhibitor, Z-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-fluoromethyl ketone, inhibited theasinensin A induced DNA fragmentation. Furthermore, it was found that theasinensin A induced loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, elevation of ROS production, release of mitochondrial cytochrome c into the cytosol, and subsequent induction of caspase-9 activity. These results indicate that theasinensin A allows caspase-activated deoxyribonuclease to enter the nucleus and degrade chromosomal DNA and induces DFF-45 (DNA fragmentation factor) degradation. The results suggest that induction of apoptosis by theasinensin A may provide a pivotal mechanism for their cancer chemopreventive function.     

Identification of characteristic aroma-active compounds from water dropwort (Oenanthe javanica DC.)

Characteristic aroma components of water dropwort (Oenanthe javanica DC.) were evaluated by aroma extract dilution analysis and solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-olfactometry. Alpha-Terpinolene (plastic/cucumber-like) was the most intense aroma-active compound in water dropwort. Other potent aroma-active compounds included p-cymene (kerosene-like), alpha-terpinene (lemon), (E)-caryophyllene (woody), (Z,E)-alpha-farnesene (woody), hexanal (green), (Z)-3-hexenol (green), phenylacetaldehyde (honey), (E)-2-nonenal (cucumber), bornyl acetate (cooked vegetable), and gamma-terpinene (lemon). Of these, p-cymene was believed to be primarily responsible for the distinct kerosene-like aroma note of water dropwort. The aroma property of p-cymene was dependent on its concentration and was described as kerosene-like at relatively high concentrations but changed to citrus and green aroma notes at low concentrations.     

Precipitation chemistry and atmospheric processes in the forested part of Croatia

The influence of mesoscale weather patterns on the chemical composition of daily precipitation samples is analysed. The data of pH, sulphur from sulphates and total nitrogen are analysed for two rural sites: Plitvice station in forested part of Central Croatia (1981 to 1990) and Puntijarka suburban station on the mountain near Zagreb, the capital of Croatia (1982–1991). The two prevailing weather types in precipitation days are selected and the comparison of chemical composition of precipitation is made for each of them. The frequency distributions of pH, sulphur and nitrogen show that concentration of major ions in precipitation apparently depends on the regional scale weather type. It is shown that the seasonal variation of deposition is related to the seasonal variation in precipitation amount. In both weather types Plitvice receives more pollution than Puntijarka that is closer to urban and industrial pollution sources. Both locations are under the prevailing influence of regional pollution sources.     

Ecdysteroids of quinoa seeds (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.)

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) is a hardy and nutritious Latin American pseudo-cereal. Studies on the seeds led to the isolation of five ecdysteroids using column chromatography. Their structures were determined as ecdysterone, makisterone A, 24-epi-makisterone A, 24(28)-dehydromakisterone A, and 20,26-dihydroxyecdysone by spectroscopic methods. This study demonstrates that quinoa seeds are a source of ecdysteroids, which were reported to be molting hormones in insects.     

Ballistic 2-d imaging through scattering walls using an ultrafast optical kerr gate

An ultrafast optical shutter was used to image ultrasmall objects hidden behind scattering walls by a procedure that selects in time the ballistic component and rejects the scattered diffusive light. Scattering walls used in this experiment included human breast tissue, chicken breast tissue, and a water suspension of polystyrene particles with scattering coefficients up to 21.7. Submillimeter resolution was achieved for two-dimensional ballistic images of a single point, a double-point fluorescence source, and a bar test chart in or behind these different turbid media.