Enantioselective Dynamic Process Reduction of α- and β-Tetralone and Stereoinversion of Resulting Alcohols in a Selected Strain Culture

α-Tetralone and β-tetralone were subjected to biotransformation by 14 fungal strains. Enantiomeric purity of the products depended on the reaction time. 3-Day transformation of α-tetralone in Absidia cylindrospora culture gave S-(+)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-naftol of 92 % ee, whereas longer biotransformation time resulted in decrease of ee value. 3-Day transformation of β-tetralone by the same strain gave predominantly S-(−)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2-naftol, whereas after 9 days of the reaction, the R-enantiomer with 85 % ee was isolated. Transformation of β-tetralone by Chaetomium sp. KCh 6651 gave pure (S)-(−)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2-naftol in high yield at the concentration of 1 g/l. In this process, a non-selective carbonyl reduction was observed, followed by a selective oxidation of the R-alcohol

Nanoparticles Targeted to Fibroblast Activation Protein Outperform PSMA for MRI Delineation of Primary Prostate Tumors

OnlinePublAccurate delineation of gross tumor volumes remains a barrier to radiotherapy dose escalation and boost dosing in the treatment of solid tumors, such as prostate cancer. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of tumor targets has the power to enable focal dose boosting, particularly when combined with technological advances such as MRI-linear accelerator. Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is overexpressed in stromal components of >90% of epithelial carcinomas. Herein, the authors compare targeted MRI of prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) with FAP in the delineation of orthotopic prostate tumors. Control, FAP, and PSMA-targeting iron oxide nanoparticles were prepared with modification of a lymphotropic MRI agent (FerroTrace, Ferronova). Mice with orthotopic LNCaP tumors underwent MRI 24 h after intravenous injection of nanoparticles. FAP and PSMA nanoparticles produced contrast enhancement on MRI when compared to control nanoparticles. FAP-targeted MRI increased the proportion of tumor contrast-enhancing black pixels by 13%, compared to PSMA. Analysis of changes in R2 values between healthy prostates and LNCaP tumors indicated an increase in contrast-enhancing pixels in the tumor border of 15% when targeting FAP, compared to PSMA. This study demonstrates the preclinical feasibility of PSMA and FAP-targeted MRI which can enable targeted image-guided focal therapy of localized prostate cancer.Nicole Dmochowska, Valentina Milanova, Ramesh Mukkamala, Kwok Keung Chow, Nguyen T. H. Pham, Madduri Srinivasarao, Lisa M. Ebert, Timothy Stait-Gardner, Hien Le, Anil Shetty, Melanie Nelson, Philip S. Low, and Benjamin Thierr

Transcriptome Analysis of the Arabidopsis Megaspore Mother Cell Uncovers the Importance of RNA Helicases for Plant Germline Development

Germ line specification is a crucial step in the life cycle of all organisms. For sexual plant reproduction, the megaspore mother cell (MMC) is of crucial importance: it marks the first cell of the plant “germline” lineage that gets committed to undergo meiosis. One of the meiotic products, the functional megaspore, subsequently gives rise to the haploid, multicellular female gametophyte that harbours the female gametes. The MMC is formed by selection and differentiation of a single somatic, sub-epidermal cell in the ovule. The transcriptional network underlying MMC specification and differentiation is largely unknown. We provide the first transcriptome analysis of an MMC using the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana with a combination of laser-assisted microdissection and microarray hybridizations. Statistical analyses identified an over-representation of translational regulation control pathways and a significant enrichment of DEAD/DEAH-box helicases in the MMC transcriptome, paralleling important features of the animal germline. Analysis of two independent T-DNA insertion lines suggests an important role of an enriched helicase, MNEME (MEM), in MMC differentiation and the restriction of the germline fate to only one cell per ovule primordium. In heterozygous mem mutants, additional enlarged MMC-like cells, which sometimes initiate female gametophyte development, were observed at higher frequencies than in the wild type. This closely resembles the phenotype of mutants affected in the small RNA and DNA-methylation pathways important for epigenetic regulation. Importantly, the mem phenotype shows features of apospory, as female gametophytes initiate from two non-sister cells in these mutants. Moreover, in mem gametophytic nuclei, both higher order chromatin structure and the distribution of LIKE HETEROCHROMATIN PROTEIN1 were affected, indicating epigenetic perturbations. In summary, the MMC transcriptome sets the stage for future functional characterization as illustrated by the identification of MEM, a novel gene involved in the restriction of germline fate

Effect of Concentration of Pollutants on Energy Consumption During Electrochemical Treatment of Leachate from Municipal Waste Disposal

Odcieki powstające na składowisku odpadów komunalnych powinny być gromadzone i poddawane unieszkodliwianiu. Powoduje to, że gospodarka ściekowa jest jednym z najtrudniejszych technologicznych zagadnień związanych z prowadzeniem składowiska. Skład odcieków jest bardzo zróżnicowany i zależy głównie od typu składowanych odpadów oraz wieku składowiska. Niestety, odcieki powstają również jeszcze przez długi czas po zakończeniu jego eksploatacji. W praktyce odcieki najczęściej wywożone są ze składowiska i oczyszczane łącznie ze ściekami komunalnymi w oczyszczalniach biologicznych. Aby zwiększyć efektywność oczyszczania odcieków, prowadzone są badania nad zastosowaniem innych, wysokoefektywnych metod, m.in. elektrochemicznych, w tym pośredniego elektroutleniania anodowego. W artykule przedstawiono wpływ wielkości ładunku zanieczyszczeń zawartych w odciekach na zużycie energii wykorzystywanej w tym procesie. Z badań wywnioskowano, że energia zużyta do usunięcia jednostkowego ładunku zanieczyszczeń jest tym mniejsza, im jest ich więcej.Leachate generated in municipal waste should be collected and subjected to disposal. The result is that, the wastewater is one of the most difficult technological issues related to the conduct of the landfill. The composition of leachate is very diverse and depends mainly on the type of waste disposed of and the age of the landfill. Unfortunately, the leachate also arise for a long time after the end of its life. In practice, the most common is the procedure to export the leachate from the landfill and treat them with all municipal wastewater in the biological waste treatment plants. To increase the efficiency of leachate treatment, the research on the use of other, highly effective methods is carried out, among others the electrochemical methods including indirect electrooxidation anode. The article presents the impact of the size of the load of pollutants contained in the leachate to the energy used in the process. It was concluded that the more units of pollutant load is, the less energy to remove them is used

The Examination of the Effectiveness of Selected Anode in Electrooxidation Process, Measured Loss of Amonia and Organic Impurities from Leaching During the Electrolysis from Municipal Landfill

Proces elektrochemicznego utleniania jest obiecującą metodą oczyszczania odcieków ze składowisk odpadów komunalnych. W badaniach zastosowano pośrednie elektroutlenianie anodowe, które różni się od bezpośredniego tym, że zanieczyszczenia nie adsorbują się i nie utleniają na powierzchni anody tylko są utleniane w roztworze, gdzie znajduje się utleniacz. Efektywność wytypowanych anod Pt/Ir, Ru/Sn, Ir/Sn, Sn/Pb/Ru, mierzono ilością usuniętego amoniaku i spadkiem wartości ChZT. Z wytypowanych anod najbardziej efektywną okazała się anoda SPR tj Sn/Pb/Ru. W wyniku elektrolizy uzyskano całkowite usunięcie barwy odcieków, bardzo istotne zmniejszenie wartości ChZT oraz całkowite usunięcie amoniaku co powoduje, że w dalszym procesie oczyszczania odcieków może zostać pominięty etap nitryfikacji i denitryfikacji.The process of electrochemical oxidation is a promising method of treatment of leachate from municipal landfills. In the tests there was used the indirect electrooxidation of the anode which is different from the direct one in the way that the impurities do not adsorb and oxidize the surface of the anode but they are oxidized only in a solution, where there is an oxidant. The effectiveness of selected anode Pt /Ir, Ru /Sn, Ir /Sn, Sn /Pb /Ru was measured by the amount of removed ammonia and by a decrease in COD values. From the selected anodes the most effective one was the Sn /Pb /Ru called SPR. The electrolytic process has completely removed the leaching color as well as it significantly reduced the COD and totally removed the ammonia. It may result in the omission of nitrification and denitrification step in the further effluent treatment process

Evaluation of hazard as conse quence of emission of heavy metals from communications sources in the aspects of ecological safety of the areas of high urbanization

W artykule przedstawiono czynniki wywołujące zanieczyszczenie środowiska wodno-glebowego w rejonach o silnej urbanizacji na przykładzie aglomeracji warszawskiej. Kumulacja metali ciężkich w środowisku wodno-glebowym, której główną przyczyną jest emisja z tras komunikacyjnych powoduje wiele nieprzewidywalnych i niebezpiecznych zjawisk zachodzących w środowisku naturalnym. Zanieczyszczone metalami ciężkimi osady denne jezior i cieków wodnych oraz gleby miejskie stają się potencjalnym źródłem wtórnego, niekontrolowanego zanieczyszczenia wszystkich elementów środowiska naturalnego, stanowiąc poważne zagrożenie dla bezpieczeństwa ekologicznego.The area of Warsaw is situated in the central Poland and due to this is mainly exposed to heavy vehicle transport. Bottom sediments contaminations by heavy metals are serious and still rise threat for the ecosystem where we live. It has been shown that accumulation of heavy metals in water and soil environment can lead to hazardous and highly unpredictable phenomena occurring in metropolitan area. The determination and especially speciation of the heavy metals in the contaminated sediments of surface water, bottom sediments and urban soils may be used in the ecotoxicological study. The results of serious hazard of ecological safety may be applied for the evaluation of quality urban environment

Chromatographic Analysis of Chemical Compounds in the Leachate from Municipal Landfill, Undergoing Electrooxidation

One of the develop leachate treatment methods is their anodic electrooxidation. As a result of the process there are many chlorinated compounds, but also those that chlorine in the molecule do not. In the first step chlorine is substituted in the molecule, and may be followed by separation of chlorine and the breaking of bonds resulting in the formation simpler compounds. Compound, which was determined in the raw leachate was the greatest concentration of dibutyl phthalate – 348 µg/l. At lower concentrations were detected: toluene – 285 µg/l, trimethylbenzene – 97 µg/l, acid, 3metylo- butyric acid – 82 µg/l, naphthalene – 65 µg/l, 1metylo- 3etylobenzene – 30 µg/l. During electrolysis determined new compounds, identified in the raw leachate. A very large group of halogenated compounds formed. For compounds whose concentration grew during the electrolysis until 60 min. were: 3chloro- 2-methyl- butane, acetonitrile, chloroform, 1,1dimetylo- 3chloro- propanol, 2chloro- 3etylobenzene. The group of compounds, where the concentrations of 10, 15 minutes of electrolysis to grow and after 30, 45 minutes is decreased until the end of the process (60 min). were among other compounds: 1,2,3trichloropropanol, 1chloro- 3metylobenzene, 3chloro- methane. Group of compounds, which were determined after 15, 30 minutes. electrolysis, but have not been determined after 60 min. i.e. at the end of the process, include: chloroacetone, benzoaldehyd, chlorinated nitrile, 1,1-dichloro-2-propanone