First systematic review on PM-bound water: exploring the existing knowledge domain using the CiteSpace software

Scientometrics - Aerosol water is a master component of atmospheric aerosols and a medium that enables all aqueous-phase reactions occurring in the atmosphere. This integral chemical compound of...     

Phenolic acids from malt are efficient acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitors

Anticholinesterase activities of mashes produced using wheat (‘Wheat Pale’) or barley malts (‘Pilsner’, ‘Pale Ale’, ‘Munich Light’, ‘Carahell’ or ‘Carared’) were studied by spectrophotometric method. The highest inhibition of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase was observed at 52 °C and/or 64 °C, followed by a decrease or stabilization of the activity at 72 °C. Changes in the total phenolics content in the test mashes were correlated with changes in the acetylcholinesterase and/or butyrylcholinesterase activities. Phenolic acids were singled out from phenolic compounds for more detailed studies owing to their simplicity and structural similarity to well‐known cholinesterase inhibitors. The main phenolic acids in the test malts were ferulic, gallic, p‐coumaric and vanillic acids followed by chlorogenic, caffeic, syringic, p‐OH‐benzoic, sinapic and protocatechuic acids. The anticholinesterase activities of the phenolic acids were studied using model standard solutions at concentrations similar to the maximal content of these compounds in the test mashes. Among the phenolic acids, p‐coumaric acid had the largest share in the anticholinesterase activity, even though it was present in the test mashes at a significantly lower concentration (~0.38 mm L^?1) than ferulic acid (~1.00 mm L^?1). Sinapic acid and p‐OH‐benzoic acid (0.03 and 0.01 mm L^?1, respectively) were equally efficient inhibitors as ferulic acid at ~1.00 mm L^?1. This preliminary study should be extended to other phenolic compounds from malt (wort) in the near future. Copyright © 2012 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling     

Influence of Sedimentation of Atoms on Structural and Thermoelectric Properties of Bi-Sb Alloys

Functionally graded thermoelectric materials (FGTMs) have been prepared by sedimentation of atoms under a strong gravitational field. Starting samples of Bi _x Sb_1?x alloys with different composition x were synthesized by melting of metals and subsequent annealing of quenched samples. The thermoelectric properties (Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity) of the starting materials were characterized over the temperature range from 300 K to 525 K. Strong gravity experiments were performed in a unique ultracentrifuge apparatus under acceleration of over 0.5 × 10⁶ G at temperatures of 538 K and 623 K. Changes of the microstructure and chemical composition were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy analysis. The distribution of the Seebeck coefficient of the Bi-Sb alloys was characterized by scanning thermoelectric microprobe. As a result of sedimentation, large changes in chemical composition (x = 0.45 to 1) were obtained. It was found that the changes in chemical composition were correlated with alterations of the Seebeck coefficient. The obtained experimental data allowed the development of a semiempirical model for the selection of optimal processing parameters for preparation of Bi-Sb alloys with required thermoelectric properties.     

Development model for energy crop plantations in the Czech Republic for the years 2008–2030

This paper deals with modelling the development of plantations for intentional biomass production. The model of plots for the areas of interest consider the following biomass sources: intentionally produced biomass from SRC of fast-growing trees and non-woody energy crops (sorrel, reed grass and triticale). Statistical data for the entire area of interest (NUTS1 size) and data for a part of this area (NUTS3 size—18% of total area of interest) were used to determine data on the area of arable land and permanent grasslands in the initial year. This paper presents a model of the development of production plots for the period 2008–2030. Yields are calculated of selected energy crops with regard to their growing cycle using so-called triangular method. The core of the algorithm for calculation of growing area of energy crop is an optimalization of processes regarding economic and technical demands for long-term and sustainable production of biomass.     

Reversible and irreversible pollutant-induced bacterial cellular stress effects measured by ethidium bromide uptake and efflux

Chemical pollution is known to affect microbial community composition but it is poorly understood how toxic compounds influence physiology of single cells that may lay at the basis of loss of reproductive fitness. Here we analyze physiological disturbances of a variety of chemical pollutants at single cell level using the bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens in an oligotrophic growth assay. As a proxy for physiological disturbance we measured changes in geometric mean ethidium bromide (EB) fluorescence intensities in subpopulations of live and dividing cells exposed or not exposed to different dosages of tetradecane, 4-chlorophenol, 2-chlorobiphenyl, naphthalene, benzene, mercury chloride, or water-dissolved oil fractions. Because ethidium bromide efflux is an energy-dependent process any disturbance in cellular energy generation is visible as an increased cytoplasmic fluorescence. Interestingly, all pollutants even at the lowest dosage of 1 nmol/mL culture produced significantly increased ethidium bromide fluorescence compared to nonexposed controls. Ethidium bromide fluorescence intensities increased upon pollutant exposure dosage up to a saturation level, and were weakly (r(2) = 0.3905) inversely correlated to the proportion of live cells at that time point in culture. Temporal increase in EB fluorescence of growing cells is indicative for toxic but reversible effects. Cells displaying high continued EB fluorescence levels experience constant and permanent damage, and no longer contribute to population growth. The procedure developed here using bacterial ethidium bromide efflux pump activity may be a useful complement to screen sublethal toxicity effects of chemicals.     

A flow cytometry based oligotrophic pollutant exposure test to detect bacterial growth inhibition and cell injury

Toxicity of chemical pollutants in aquatic environments is often addressed by assays that inquire reproductive inhibition of test microorganisms, such as algae or bacteria. Those tests, however, assess growth of populations as a whole via macroscopic methods such as culture turbidity or colony-forming units. Here we use flow cytometry to interrogate the fate of individual cells in low-density populations of the bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens SV3 exposed or not under oligotrophic conditions to a number of common pollutants, some of which derive from oil contamination. Cells were stained at regular time intervals during the exposure assay with fluorescent dyes that detect membrane injury (i.e., live-dead assay). Reduction of population growth rates was observed upon toxicant insult and depended on the type of toxicant. Modeling and cell staining indicate that population growth rate decrease is a combined effect of an increased number of injured cells that may or may not multiply, and live cells dividing at normal growth rates. The oligotrophic assay concept presented here could be a useful complement for existing biomarker assays in compliance with new regulations on chemical effect studies or, more specifically, for judging recovery after exposure to fluctuating toxicant conditions.