A hydroponic, greenhouse experiment was conducted to assess the effects of NaCl on growth, gas-exchange parameters, chlorophyll (Chl) content, and ion distribution in seven sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) genotypes (Ardestan, Varamin, Naz-Takshakhe, Naz-Chandshakhe, Oltan, Yekta, Darab). The plants were grown in 4-L containers and subjected to varying levels of salinity (0, 30, and 60 mM NaCl). After 42 days, salt treatments induced decreases of plant fresh and dry mass, total leaf area, and plant height in all genotypes. Increasing NaCl concentration caused significant, genotypedependent decrease in the net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, Chl content, and maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II, while it increased the intercellular CO2 concentration. Based on the dry matter accumulation under salinity, the genotypes were categorized in two groups, i.e., salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive. The impact of salt on plant ion concentrations differed significantly among the sesame genotypes and between both two groups. The plant Na+ concentrations were significantly lower in Ardestan, Darab, and Varamin genotypes than those found in the remaining genotypes. The highest plant K+ and Ca2+ concentrations together with the lowest Na+/K+ and Na+/Ca2+ ratios were observed in Ardestan, Varamin, and Darab genotypes. Our results indicated the presence of differences in salt response among seven sesame genotypes. It suggested that growth and photosynthesis could depend on ion concentrations and ratios in sesame., A. H. Bazrafshan, P. Ehsanzadeh., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The identification and examination of sources of external loading are important pressure indicators for studying the nutrient balance and eutrophication of water bodies. Focusing on the eastern Gulf of Finland, this paper investigates and decomposes the sources of phosphorus, a limiting factor of eutrophication of the Gulf and its accompanying Neva Bay, and of nitrogen as pressure indicators. The eastern Gulf of Finland’s catchment basin represents Europe’s largest freshwater basin. Both point and non-point sources of pollution, as well as their current and possible withdrawals from the watershed’s nutrient loading, are considered. The investigation identifies poultry plants and animal husbandry enterprises in the coastal watershed as critical contributing sources to eutrophication in the eastern Gulf of Finland. Analyses based on such pressure indicators can help to contribute directly to future policy-making as concerns environmental protection measures and water resources planning in the eastern Gulf of Finland and other regions. and Identifikácia zdrojov externej záťaže živinami je významným indikátorom pre štúdium bilancie živín a eutrofizácie vôd. Tento príspevok prezentuje výsledky výskumu zdrojov fosforu a sodíka východnej časti Fínskeho zálivu a delty rieky Nevy, ako limitujúcich faktorov eutrofizácie. Povodie východnej časti Fínskeho zálivu je najväčším európskym zdrojom sladkej vody. V analýze sú uvažované bodové a plošné zdroje znečistenia a tiež súčasné, ale aj možné odbery vody a znečisťujúcich látok z povodia. Výskumom sa podarilo identifikovať hydinárske farmy a veľkochovy zvierat v pobrežnej zóne povodia ako kritické vzhľadom na eutrofizáciu východnej časti Fínskeho zálivu. Výsledky analýzy môžu priamo prispieť k tvorbe legislatívy týkajúcej sa ochrany životného prostredia a plánovania využitia zdrojov vody vo východnej časti Fínskeho zálivu, ale aj v iných regiónoch.
Nebezpečným, ale mezi studenty oblíbeným pokusem demonstrujícím explozivní chemickou reakci je vhodit kousek kovového sodíku do vody. Každý učitel chemie ví, že výbuch nastává kvůli uvolňování tepla při přechodu elektronů z kovu do vody, přičemž vzniká pára, hydroxid a vodík, který se může vznítit. Plyny vznikající na rozhraní mezi kovem a vodou by ale měly od sebe tyto reaktanty oddělit a tím reakci potlačit. Jak to, že k výbuchu přesto dochází? Pomocí záběrů ultrarychlé kamery a molekulových simulací se podařilo odhalit dosud neznámý primární mechanismus explozivní reakce alkalických kovů ve vodě. Poté, co elektrony přejdou z alkalického kovu do vody, vytvoří se na jeho povrchu značně veliký kladný náboj. Kvůli vzájemnému odpuzování těchto nábojů dojde k takzvané coulombické explozi, kdy s povrchu ohromnou rychlostí vylétají kousky kovu do vody. Tím se reaktanty efektivně promíchají, což je podmínkou výbuchu., Throwing a piece of sodium into water is a dangerous, but popular experiment demonstrating an explosive chemical reaction. Every chemistry teacher knows that during the explosion heat is released when electrons move from the metal to water generating water vapor, hydroxide, and hydrogen which can ignite. Gases generated at the interface between the metal and water should, however, separate the reactants and thus quench the explosion. How is it possible that the explosion can nevertheless take place? Thanks to pictures from an ultrafast camera and molecular simulations researchers from the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry found a hitherto unknown primary mechanism of the explosive reaction of alkali metals in water. When the electrons move from the metal to water, the former acquires a large positive charge. Repulsion between these charges leads to a Coulomb explosion with metal spikes shooting into water. This leads to effective mixing of reactants thus enabling the explosion., and Pavel Jungwirth.
The glycosaminoglycan (GAG) molecules are a group of high molecular weight, negatively charged polysaccharides present abundantly in the mammalian organism. By their virtue of ion and water binding capacity, they may affect the redistribution of body fluids and ultimately the blood pressure. Data from the literature suggests that the mitogens Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)-A and VEGF-C are able to regulate the amount and charge density of GAGs and their detachment from the cell surface. Based on these findings we investigated the relationship between the level of dietary sodium intake, the expression levels of VEGF-A and VEGF-C, and the amount of the skin GAGs hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate in an in vivo rat model. Significant correlation between dietary sodium intake, skin sodium levels and GAG content was found. We confirmed the GAG synthesizing role of VEGF-C but failed to prove that GAGs are degraded by VEGF-A. No significant difference in blood pressure was registered between the different dietary groups. A quotient calculated form the ion and water content of the skin tissue samples suggests that - in contrast to previous findings - the osmotically inactive ions and bound water fractions are proportional., D. Sugár, R. Agócs, E. Tatár, G. Tóth, P. Horváth, E. Sulyok, A. J. Szabó., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The present research was conducted to assess physiological responses of ‘Malas-e-Saveh’ (Malas) and ‘Shishe-Kab’ (Shishe) pomegranates to water of different salt content and electrical conductivity (1.05, 4.61, and 7.46 dS m-1). Both cultivars showed a reduced trunk length due to salinity. Relative water content and stomatal conductivity of both cultivars were significantly reduced under salt stress, but ion leakage increased. In both cultivars, total chlorophyll (Chl) and carbohydrates decreased with rise in salinity, while proline accumulation increased. With salinity increment, the Chl fluorescence parameters (maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII and effective quantum yield of PSII) declined significantly in both cultivars, with higher reduction observed in Shishe. Generally, more Na+ accumulated in shoots and more Cl- was observed in leaves. Cl- accumulation increased by salinity in leaves of Malas, but it was reduced in Shishe. The K+/Na+ ratio in leaves decreased in both cultivars by salinity increment. Malas was less affected by osmotic effects of NaCl, but it accumulated more Cl- in its leaves. Thus, Malas might be more affected by negative effects of salinity., M. Khayyat, A. Tehranifar, G. H. Davarynejad, M. H. Sayyari-Zahan., and Obsahuje bibliografii