Degradation of neonicotinoid insecticides by different advanced oxidation processes and studying the effect of ozone on TiO2 photocatalysis

Although some studies concerning the effect of pH and ozone dosage on TiO₂ photocatalysis (O₂/TiO₂/UV) have already been published, no complete investigation and explanation of the effects of both parameters on photocatalytic ozonation (O₃/TiO₂/UV) have been carried out. Aqueous solutions of neonicotinoid insecticides (thiacloprid and imidacloprid) were chosen as a degradation medium, since they exhibit a high threat for aquatic systems and it is of great importance to find an effective method for their elimination from the environment. In preliminary stability tests, thiacloprid showed higher photo- and chemical stability compared to imidacloprid, therefore its degradation was studied in detail. To assess the suitability of various treatments for degradation and mineralization of thiacloprid in water at different pH values and ozone dosages, we applied ozonation (O₃) and three different photochemical advanced oxidation processes, namely ozonation, coupled with UV radiation (O₃/UV), O₃/TiO₂/UV and O₂/TiO₂/UV. Light source emitting mainly in UVA range was applied in all three processes. The photocatalytic ozonation (O₃/TiO₂/UV) was found to be the most efficient process irrespective of pH. The synergistic effect of ozone and TiO₂ photocatalysis was noticed at acidic and neutral pH, but the synergism was lost at basic pH, probably due to faster self-decompositon of ozone under alkaline conditions. At acidic pH, also the oxidation of chloride anions to chlorate(V) was noticed in O₃/TiO₂/UV and in O₃/UV processes. By plotting the disappearance rate constants of thiacloprid degradation in O₃/TiO₂/UV and O₃/UV systems as a function of the flow rate of ozone, the synergistic effect of ozone was undoubtedly proven. The slope of the linear fit in case of O₃/TiO₂/UV process was considerably steeper than in case of O₃/UV, which would not happen in absence of synergistic effect. The linearity in O₃/TiO₂/UV system was lost only at very high flow rates of ozone.     

Replication of R6K gamma origin in vitro: discrete start sites for DNA synthesis dependent on pi and its copy-up variants

The regulation of the plasmid R6K gamma origin (gamma ori) is accomplished through the ability of the pi protein to act as an initiator and inhibitor of replication. Hyperactive variants of this protein, called copy-up pi, allow four to tenfold increases of gamma ori plasmid DNA in vivo. The higher activity of copy-up pi variants could be explained by an increase in the initiator function, a decrease in the inhibitor activity, or a derepression of a more efficient mechanism of replication that can be used by wt pi (pi35. 0) only under certain conditions. We have compared the replication activities of wt pi35.0 and copy-up pi mutants in vitro, and analyzed the replication products. It is shown that copy-up variants are several-fold more active than wt pi35.0 in replication. This appears to be due to enhanced specific replication activity of copy-up mutants rather than elevated fractions of protein proficient in DNA binding. Furthermore, biochemical complementation revealed that pi200 (copy-up) is dominant over wt pi35.0. The elevated activity of copy-up pi is not caused by an increased rate of replisome assembly as inferred from in vitro replication assays in which the lag periods observed were similar to that of wt pi35.0. Moreover, only one round of semiconservative, unidirectional replication occurred in all the samples analyzed indicating that copy-up pi proteins do not initiate multiple rounds of DNA synthesis. Rather, a larger fraction of DNA template replicates in the presence of copy-up pi as determined by electron microscopy. Two clusters of discrete DNA synthesis start sites are mapped by primer extension near the stability (stb) locus of the gamma ori. We show that the start sites are the same in the presence of wt pi35.0 or copy-up proteins. This comparative analysis suggests that wt pi35.0 and copy-up variants utilize fundamentally similar mechanism(s) of replication priming.     

Short communication: The association of adiponectin and leptin concentrations with prepartum dietary energy supply,parity, body condition,and postpartum hyperketonemia in transition dairy cows

Adipokines—hormones produced by adipose tissue—have important regulatory functions, and their concentrations can change around the time of calving when energy balance rapidly decreases. Hence, energy balance may be an important factor in determining the circulating concentrations of adipokines, particularly adiponectin and leptin. The objective of our study was to investigate the association between the level of energy fed to prepartum Holstein cows and circulating concentrations of adiponectin and leptin before and after calving. Holstein dairy cows entering second or greater lactation were fed either a controlled-energy diet formulated to supply approximately 100% of energy requirements (n = 28) or a high-energy diet formulated to supply approximately 150% of energy requirements throughout the entire dry period (n = 28). Serum samples were analyzed for adiponectin and leptin concentrations at 56, 28, 10, and 1 d prepartum as well as on d 1, 10, 21, and 42 postpartum using ELISA. Parity was dichotomized into cows entering second versus higher parity. Average peripartum body condition score (BCS) was computed from weekly measurements and dichotomized into animals with an average BCS of ≤3.25 and >3.25. In addition, cows were classified according to the occurrence of hyperketonemia (β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations ≥1.2 mmol/L at any time between 3 and 21 d in milk). Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA. Serum leptin but not adiponectin concentrations were associated with prepartum feeding level such that leptin concentrations increased transiently during the dry period in cows overfed energy, but concentrations were not different postpartum. Cows entering second parity had higher adiponectin and lower leptin concentrations compared with cows in higher parities. Cows that developed hyperketonemia postpartum had consistently lower adiponectin concentrations during the study period. Cows with average BCS >3.25 had higher leptin concentrations during the dry period only, but adiponectin concentrations were not associated with BCS. In conclusion, prepartum energy level had only transient effects on leptin concentrations and did not lead to changes in adiponectin concentrations.