Isolation of two seven-membered ring C58 fullerene derivatives: C58F17CF3 and C58F18

Fluorination of C60 at 550 degrees C leads to milligram quantities of two stable fullerene derivatives with 58-carbon cage structures: C58F18 and C58F17CF3. The compounds were characterized by mass spectrometry and fluorine nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and the data support a heptagonal ring in the framework. The resulting strain, which has hindered past attempts to prepare these smaller quasi-fullerenes, is mitigated here by hybridization change of some of the carbons in the pentagons from sp2 to sp3 because of fluorine addition. The loss of carbon from C60 is believed to occur via sequential fluorine addition to a CC single bond and an adjacent CC bond, followed by loss of a:CF2 carbene.     

Comparison of approaches towards ecotoxicity evaluation for the application of dredged sediment on soil

Purpose

The toxicity of 36 dredged sediments from the Czech Republic was investigated using a large battery of bioassays. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of ecotoxicity testing in general and of individual bioassays more specific and to investigate how the results of bioassays are determined by the physicochemical properties of sediment samples and/or sediment contamination.

Material and methods

In 2008 and 2010, 36 sediment samples were collected from rivers and ponds and from sediment heaps in different parts of the Czech Republic. Both their physicochemical properties and their levels of contamination with POPs and heavy metals were analyzed. The ecotoxicities of the sediments were evaluated using the four bioassays from the new Czech directive 257/2009 Coll. concerning the application of dredged sediments on agricultural land (Enchytraeus crypticus reproduction, Folsomia candida reproduction, Lactuca sativa root elongation, and potential ammonium oxidation). The results of the four directive bioassays were compared with the results of other soil bioassays (Caenorhabditis elegans mortality, Eisenia fetida avoidance and reproduction) and eluate bioassays (Daphnia magna immobilization, Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata growth inhibition test, and Vibrio fischeri luminescence).

Results and discussion

We demonstrate that the battery suggested in Czech directive 257/2009 Coll. is highly effective in identifying toxic samples; these bioassays clearly revealing different types of toxicity and different exposure routes. Shorter alternative bioassays may be added especially when fast toxicity identification is needed. Eluate bioassays identified samples potentially hazardous to aquatic ecosystems. Their inclusion into the assessment scheme should be considered if the goal of assessment is also the protection of aquatic ecosystems. The results of our multivariate analysis show that specific physicochemical properties and contamination may affect bioassay responses. C. elegans was the most sensitive bioassay to physicochemical properties and also to organic contamination, while eluate bioassays were sensitive to heavy metal pollution.

Conclusions

Most effects detected by the bioassays could not be explained by the levels of toxicants measured or by the natural characteristics of sediments. Our results show that bioassays are irreplaceable in dredged sediment risk assessment because they complement information provided by chemical analyses.     

Methods of collection of plant root exudates in relation to plant metabolism and purpose: A review

The aim of this work is to review the current knowledge on the effects of plant metabolism (C₃, C₄, and CAM) on root exudation and on the methods of exudate collection as well as the use of such exudates for analyses, testing of microbial response, degradation of pollutants, enzymatic activities, and occurrence of allelochemicals. We examine the advantages and disadvantages of each method as related to the downstream use of the exudates. The use of continuous percolation of solid cultivation medium with adjustment of nutrient‐solution strength appears to be a promising methodology for the determination of root exudation rates and qualitative composition of exuded compounds. The method mimics rhizosphere conditions, minimizing the artificial accumulation of compounds, alteration of plasma‐membrane permeability, ATPase activity, and the impacts of inhibitors or stimulators of root enzymes. Of particular significance is the fact that the adjustment of strength of nutrient solution and percolation enables universal and also long‐term use of the method, allowing high exudation yield by minimizing influx and maximizing efflux rates of exuded compounds at high nutrient‐solution strength. Furthermore, it facilitates assessment of the effect on soil microbial populations and their ability to degrade pollutants. Enzymatic activities can be assessed when a low strength of nutrient solution is used, with percolation of the exudates directly into tested soils. Composition of root exudates, regulation of root enzymes, and plant response to nutrient deficiency can be assessed by measuring net efflux or influx rates. The impact of heavy metals and other type of mechanical, chemical, and biological stresses differs according to the type of plant metabolism. This has significant consequences on transformations in plant communities, both structurally and functionally, and impacts upon crop nutrition, with respect to global climate change, and the use of plants for phytoremediation purposes. Understanding the effects of different types of plant metabolism on root exudation with respect to genetic regulation of synthetic pathways through root enzymes and transport systems presents an important direction for future research.     

Responses of oaks and tanoaks to the sudden oak death pathogen after 8 y of monitoring in two coastal California forests

Sudden oak death, caused by Phytophthora ramorum, is widely established in mesic forests of coastal central and northern California. In 2000, we placed 18 plots in two Marin County sites to monitor disease progression in coast live oaks (Quercus agrifolia), California black oaks (Q. kelloggii), and tanoaks (Lithocarpus densiflorus), the species that are most consistently killed by the pathogen in these areas. Through early 2008, the numbers of newly infected trees increased for all species. The infection rate for trees that were asymptomatic in 2000 was 5.0% y⁻¹ for coast live oaks, 4.1% y⁻¹ for black oaks and 10.0% y⁻¹ for tanoaks. Mortality rates were 3.1% y⁻¹ for coast live oaks, 2.4% y⁻¹ for black oaks, and 5.4% y⁻¹ for tanoaks. Mortality not attributed to P. ramorum was 0.54% y⁻¹ for coast live oaks, and 0.75% y⁻¹ for tanoaks. Weibull survival models of trees that were asymptomatic in 2000 provided overall median survival times of 13.7 y for coast live oaks, 13.8 y for black oaks, and 8.8 y for tanoaks. Survival of infected (bleeding) trees declined to 9.7 y for coast live oaks, 6.2 y for black oaks, and 5.8 y for tanoaks. Ambrosia beetle attacks on bleeding trees further reduced modeled survival times by 65–80%, reaffirming the earlier finding that beetle attacks on bleeding cankers considerably reduce survival. Across all plots, the modeled time for 90% of trees that were asymptomatic in 2000 to become infected is 36.5 y for coast live oaks and 15.4 y for tanoaks. There was a trend toward higher infection rates as tree diameter increased. Greater than 90% of living coast live oaks that failed during the study had extensive beetle tunneling at the site of the break. Disease intensity in coast live oaks at the plot level was positively associated with bay laurel (Umbellularia californica) basal area and negatively associated with Pacific madrone (Arbutus menziesii) basal area. This study demonstrates the use of survival modeling to characterize the effects of epidemic disease on different species and to project the future of forests infected with tree pathogens.     

The relationship between water quality and indigenous and alien crayfish distribution in the Czech Republic: patterns and conservation implications

相似文献   

Decarboxylation activity of enterococci isolated from rabbit meat and staphylococci isolated from trout intestines

The aim of the study was to explore production of seven biogenic amines (phenylethylamine, histamine, cadaverine, tyramine, putrescine, spermine and/or spermidine) by selected staphylococci and enterococci. Thirty three enterococcal strains isolated from rabbit meat (Oryctolagus cuniculus f. domesticus) and 21 staphylococcal strains isolated from intestinal content of trout (Salmo trutta morpha fario) were tested. Production of biogenic amines was evaluated after cultivation of the tested microorganisms in the de Man, Rogosa and Sharpe Broth (enterococci) or in the Brain Heart Infusion Broth (staphylococci). Both the above cultivation media were enriched with selected amino acids (histidine, tyrosine, arginine, ornithine and lysine; 2g/L each) serving as precursors of biogenic amines. After cultivation, levels of the monitored biogenic amines in broths were analysed by a high performance liquid chromatography equipped with a UV/VIS DAD detector. Among 21 staphylococci, 18 strains produced tyramine or cadaverine, 13 strains formed putrescine or phenylethylamine and only one strain generated histamine. Two staphylococcal strains produced cadaverine levels above 1000mg/L. Among 33 enterococcal strains, 27 formed cadaverine, 18 strains produced tyramine, 10 strains generated phenylethylamine, and 2 strains gave putrescine. Most of the tyramine producing enterococci generated more than 1000mg/L of this biogenic amine. Production of spermine or spermidine by the studied strains was not proved.     

Vertical distribution and soil organic matter composition in a montane cloud forest, Oaxaca, Mexico

In montane cloud forests (MCF), the main soil organic carbon (SOC) pool is believed to be constituted by organic debris accumulated on soil surface and, to a lesser extent, by the organic fraction associated with the mineral matrix. The vertical distribution of SOC within soil has strong implications on the composition, stabilization and turnover of the soil organic matter (SOM). In ecosystems like MCF, where the climatic and edaphic conditions varied with altitude, the SOM accumulation and stabilization mechanisms possibly respond to these changes. For that reason, we studied the vertical distribution, accumulation and chemical composition of SOM in five montane cloud forest communities located between 1,500 and 2,500?m a.s.l. Two main SOC accumulation patterns were found: one at 1,500, 1,950 and 2,400?m a.s.l., with SOC content gradually decreasing with depth (cumulative); and another at 2,050 and 2,500?m a.s.l. where SOC had a strong maximum in the surface horizon and a less pronounced increase the spodic horizon (eluviation–illuviation pattern). The total SOC pool in soil decreased in inverse relation to altitude from 227?C?ha^?1 at 1,500?m a.s.l. down to 143?mg?C?ha^?1 at 2,500?m a.s.l. About 40–60?% of total SOC content corresponded to the surficial organic horizon. The chemical fractionation of the SOM denoted in general predominance of the fulvic acid fraction, and high content of humin and humic acid fractions. We considered that the main SOC vertical distribution processes were related to the raw humus accumulation, decomposition in situ, podzolization in the eluviation–illuviation pattern soils mainly.