Metal-Free Synthesis of Phenol-Aryl Selenides via Dehydrogenative C-Se Coupling of Aryl Selenoxides with Phenols.

Herein, we disclose the synthesis of diaryl selenides through an unexpected C-Se coupling between aryl benzyl selenoxides and phenols. The synthetic significance of the method is that it provides a mild, rapid, and metal-free access to organoselenides in high yields with excellent functional group tolerance. This coupling of aryl benzyl selenoxides reveals a completely new reaction possibility compared with aryl sulfoxides.

A New Species of Moth Lacewing from the Mesoamerican Genus Adamsiana Penny 1996 (Neuroptera: Ithonidae).

The poorly studied Mesoamerican genus Adamsiana Penny, 1996 (Neuroptera: Ithonidae) was considered monotypic for more than 20 years, containing only Adamsiana curoei Penny. However, a second species was recently discovered in the southern region of Guatemala and is described here as Adamsiana alux Ardila-Camacho, Castillo-Argaez & Martinez, sp. nov.

Preparation of highly-conductive pyrogenic carbon-supported zero-valent iron for enhanced Cr(Ⅵ) reduction.

In this work, electron transfer (ET) moiety of PC was ascertained in chromate (Cr(Ⅵ)) reduction by zero-valent iron supported by pyrogenic carbon (PC) (ZVI/PC) prepared by pyrolysis of hematite (α-FeO)-treated pinewood. X-ray diffraction analysis suggested successive phase transformation of α-FeO→magnetite (FeO)→wustite (FeO)→ZVI (Fe). Raman spectra and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis revealed that ZVI/PC is characterized with more ordered graphitic carbon and greater surface area than pristine PC.

Urea formaldehyde modified alginate beads with improved stability and enhanced removal of Pb, Cd, and Cu.

Urea formaldehyde (UF) was grafted onto the backbone of alginate to prepare microbeads as an adsorbent for the removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions. The expensive alginate was crosslinked with cheaper UF at different ratios (1: 2.5∼1: 12.

Detection of the Lychee Erinose Mite, (Keifer) (Acari: Eriophyidae) in Florida, USA: A Comparison with Other Alien Populations.

The lychee erinose mite (LEM), (Keifer) is a serious pest of lychee ( Sonn.). LEM causes a type of gall called 'erineum' (abnormal felty growth of trichomes from the epidermis), where it feeds, reproduces and protects itself from biotic and abiotic adversities.

QTL-seq for identification of loci associated with resistance to Phytophthora crown rot in squash.

Phytophthora capsici Leonian, the causal agent of foliar blight, root rot, fruit rot and crown rot syndromes in squash (Cucurbita moschata), is a devastating pathogen worldwide. Resistance to Phytophthora crown rot in University of Florida breeding line #394-1-27-12 (C. moschata) is conferred by three independent dominant genes (R1R2R3).

Distribution, accumulation, and potential risks of heavy metals in soil and tea leaves from geologically different plantations.

Risk assessment regarding heavy metals in tea is crucial to ensure the health of tea customers. However, the effects of geological difference on distribution of heavy metals in soils and their accumulation in tea leaves remain unclear. This study aimed to estimate the impacts of geological difference on distribution of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), thallium (Tl), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), and manganese (Mn) in soils and their accumulation in tea leaves, and further evaluate their health risks.

Developing water and nitrogen budgets of a wheat-maize rotation system using auto-weighing lysimeters: Effects of blended application of controlled-release and un-coated urea.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of best management practices for reducing nitrate leaching in agricultural systems requires detailed water and nitrogen (N) budgets. A 3-year field experiment using 15 auto-weighing lysimeters was set up to quantify nitrate leaching, crop evapotranspiration (ET), and N and water use efficiencies within an intensive wheat-maize rotation system in the Northern China Plain. The lysimeter consists mainly of the following: (1) high-resolution weighing cells; (2) ceramic solution samplers for soil solutions collection; and (3) circular stainless steel leaching trays for collecting seepage water.

Paddy periphyton reduced cadmium accumulation in rice (Oryza sativa) by removing and immobilizing cadmium from the water-soil interface.

Periphyton plays a significant role in heavy metal transfer in wetlands, but its contribution to cadmium (Cd) bioavailability in paddy fields remains largely unexplored. The main aim of this study was to investigate the effect of periphyton on Cd behavior in paddy fields. Periphyton significantly decreased Cd concentrations in paddy waters.

Use of mineral multi-elemental analysis to authenticate geographical origin of different cultivars of tea in Guizhou, China.

Background: The geographical origin of tea (Camellia sinensis) can be traced using mineral elements in its leaves as fingerprints. However, the role that could be played by soil mineral elements in the geographical authentication of tea leaves has been unclear. In this study, 22 mineral elements in 73 pairs of tea leaves and soils from three regions (Pu'an, Duyun, and Liping) in Guizhou, China, were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES).

Development of species-specific molecular markers in Vanilla for seedling selection of hybrids.

Vanilla planifolia is the primary botanical source of vanilla extract used globally in various foods and beverages. V. planifolia has a global distribution based on a few foundational clones and therefore has limited genetic diversity.

Distribution Pattern of Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and Tomato Chlorotic Spot Virus in South Florida Tomato Fields.

Tomato chlorotic spot virus (TCSV) is an orthotospovirus that causes a devastating disease in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Miller). TCSV emerged recently in South Florida. Studies were conducted in three commercial tomato fields in Miami-Dade County, Florida during the vegetable-growing seasons from October to April in 2015 through 2017.

Polyethyleneimine-modified biochar for enhanced phosphate adsorption.

Biochar, a low-cost porous carbonaceous adsorbent, has low adsorption capacity for anion contaminants. The objective of this study was to improve biochar's ability to adsorb phosphorus (P) through polyethyleneimine (PEI) modification to form an amine-functionalized biochar. Biochars prepared by pyrolysis of bamboo biomass, before and after PEI modification, were characterized using the Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), elemental analysis, and batch sorption experiments.

Adsorption of acetone and cyclohexane onto CO activated hydrochars.

Most of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are toxic and harmful to human health and environment. In this study, hydrochars activated with CO were applied to remove VOCs. Two typical VOCs, acetone and cyclohexane, were used as the 'model' adsorbates to evaluate hydrochars' performance.

Evaluating the effectiveness of HOCl application on odor reduction and earthworm population growth during vermicomposting of food waste employing Eisenia fetida.

Vermicomposting has been recommended as an eco-friendly method to transform organic waste into nutrient resources with minimum energy input. However, odor and pest issues associated with this method limit the use of vermicomposting, especially in indoor conditions. This study evaluated the effectiveness of applying hypochlorous acid (HOCl) to deodorize the vermicomposting process and improve the breeding environment for earthworms (Eisenia fetida).

Geographical origin discrimination of pepper ( L.) based on multi-elemental concentrations combined with chemometrics.

The concentrations of twenty-four elements in twenty-five peppers from three cultivated regions in Guizhou Province (China) were analyzed. The chemometric data processing, including one-way analysis of variance, principal component analysis, linear discriminant analysis (LDA), and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were executed to differentiate the peppers. Consequently, the contents of 16 elements (Arsenic, Ba, Cu, Co, Cr, Ni, Pb, Sn, Sb, Mo, Sr, Y, Zn, Ca, P, and Fe) were significantly different among the three regions (< 0.

Geographic distribution of heavy metals and identification of their sources in soils near large, open-pit coal mines using positive matrix factorization.

Mining activities are considered the most important factor causing heavy metal accumulation in surface soil and it is important to understand the spatial distribution and source of heavy metals in typical steppes. In this study, the contents, spatial distribution, and sources of heavy metals were determined using geostatistical analyses, multivariate statistical analyses, and a positive matrix factorization (PMF) model using 152 soil samples collected from a grassland near the Sheng-Li coal base. The results shows that the mean concentration of heavy metals is low and does not threaten the quality of the local soil.

Molecular Composition of Size-Fractionated Fulvic Acid-Like Substances Extracted from Spent Cooking Liquor and Its Relationship with Biological Activity.

The treatment of spent cooking liquor is critical for clean production of pulp and paper industry. There is a compelling need to develop a cost-effective and green technology for reuse of organic matter in spent cooking liquor to mitigate the negative impacts on the environment. The objective of this study is to examine the chemical structure of fulvic acid-like substances extracted from spent cooking liquor (PFA) and their relationship with bioactivity in plant growth.

Comparison of Trap Designs for Detection of Euwallacea nr. fornicatus and Other Scolytinae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) That Vector Fungal Pathogens of Avocado Trees in Florida.

Laurel wilt and Fusarium dieback are vascular diseases caused by fungal symbionts of invasive ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae). Both diseases threaten avocado trees in Florida. Redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus, is the primary vector of the laurel wilt pathogen, Raffaelea lauricola, but in recent years this symbiont has been transferred laterally to at least nine other species of ambrosia beetle, which now comprise a community of secondary vectors.

Impacts of land surface model and land use data on WRF model simulations of rainfall and temperature over Lake Tana Basin, Ethiopia.

The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model is one of the regional climate models for dynamically downscaling climate variables at finer spatial and temporal scales. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of WRF model for simulating temperature and rainfall over Lake Tana basin in Ethiopia. The WRF model was configured for six experimental setups using three land surface models (LSMs): Noah, RUC and TD; and two land use datasets: USGS and updated New Land Use (NLU).

Cu(II)-Based Water-Dispersible Humic Acid: Synthesis, Characterizations, and Antifungal and Growth-Promoting Performances.

The complex synthesis process, low utilization, and single function of fungicides have seriously hindered the development of fungicides in resistance to rice sheath blight. Here, an inexpensive and multifunctional Cu(II)-based water-dispersible humic acid (Cu-WH) fungicide with growth-promoting ability was developed with a simple method. A 3D molybdate carbon hierarchical nanosphere (MoO-C-HN) catalyst was successfully synthesized using a green route and applied in a solid-phase activation of lignite to obtain water-dispersible humic acid.

Cadmium absorption and translocation of amaranth (Amaranthus mangostanus L.) affected by iron deficiency.

Amaranth (Amaranthus mangostanus L.) has superior capability for accumulating cadmium (Cd) and has the potential to be used for phytoremediation of Cd contaminated soils. Iron (Fe) is chemically similar to Cd and may mediate Cd-induced physiological or metabolic impacts in plants.

Foamed urea-formaldehyde microspheres for removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions.

A simple foaming method was applied to fabricate urea formaldehyde (UF) microspheres with cross-linked porous structures for environmental remediation of heavy metals. The specific surface area and average pore radius of the resultant foamed UF microspheres were 11-29 m/g and 11-25 nm, respectively, which increased with the increasing molar ratio of formaldehyde to urea. All the foamed UF microspheres showed good removal of heavy metals ions (Pb(II), Cu(II), and Cd(II)) in both single- and mixed-metal solutions.