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In the present paper, a new spirobenzopyran derivative was synthesized and applied in simultaneously colorimetric and fluorescence ratiometric detections of Cu2+. In contrast to the virtually photochromic character of the common spirobenzopyrans in most organic solvents, this spirobenzopyran is colorless in organic aqueous solution even irradiating by ultraviolet light. The formation of red merocyanine in an ethanol-aqueous solution is only induced by Cu2+ coordination. Furthermore, the closed form of the spirobenzopyran is highly fluorescent. Upon complexation with Cu2+, it displays not only decreasing in the initial fluorescence emission band but also appearing in a new emission at long wavelength. Thus, the Cu2+ quantitative measure can be achieved by fluorescence ratiometry. With the optimum conditions described, the Cu2+ concentration can be determined from 5.13 x 10(-7) M to 3.81 x 10(-4) with a detection limit of 1.06 x 10(-7) M. Both the color and the fluorescence changes of the spirobenzopyran are extremely specific for Cu2+ over biologically relevant substrates, which meet the selectivity requirements for biomedical application. Serum divalent copper values were determined using this spirobenzopyran, which fell into the normal range of the content reported in the literature and were in good agreement with those obtained by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The combined data from fluorescence titrations and 1H NMR measurements indicate that the new emission of the spirobenzopyran generated by Cu2+ is the result of the metal-induced ring opening and conformation restriction by Cu2+ liganding with the opened merocyanine form and the subsequent reduction of the intramolecular charge transfer of the merocyanine.

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Based on MODIS images, large-scale flow field charts and environmental monitoring data, we thoroughly analyzed the spatial distribution of wheat straw burning in North China, with focus on its environmental impacts on the air quality of Beijing and pollution transport paths. And we anatomized changes of air quality in Beijing under the impacts of pollution generated by wheat straw burning around. The results indicate that: (1) The North China Plain, a winter-wheat growing area, is the main source of pollutants induced by wheat straw burning in Beijing. The direction of south-west is the dominant heavy pollution transport path. (2) Impacts of wheat straw burning on air quality are mainly manifested by significantly increasing CO concentration. (3) Precursors of O 3 generated by wheat straw burning, combining with favorable meteorological conditions, can induce increasing O 3 concentration greatly. NO concentration will be greatly increased due to decreasing O 3 concentration at night.(4) Atmospheric particles, especially the fine ones, from wheat straw burning exert considerable influence on Beijing air quality. (5) Different contributions of wheat straw burning to pollutants are identified. Ratios of PM 10 /SO 2 , CO/SO 2 , etc., can be applied to indicate pollution extent of wheat straw burning. High ratios of PM 10 /SO 2 and CO/SO 2 show that the air quality was heavily impacted by wheat straw burning and these ratios can be employed as indicators of contribution of wheat straw burning to the degradation of Beijing air quality. (6) Randomness of wheat straw burning activities renders random outbreak of air pollution of this type. Regional and extensive wheat straw burning activities can cause serious air pollution event.

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The south coast of Laizhou Bay, in northeastern China, is a production area for halogenated flame retardants (HFR). In 2007, the authors measured serum concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in Laizhou Bay residents. To assess the PBDE concentration trend, and determine the concentrations of the emerging flame retardants Dechlorane Plus (DP) and bis(2-ethylhexyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrabromophthalate (TBPH), the authors measured the concentrations of 8 PBDE congeners, 2 DP isomers, and TBPH in 10 composite samples, which were pooled from the serum collected from 305 Laizhou Bay residents in October 2011. The average concentration of the total PBDE (∑8 PBDE) concentration in all serum pools was 240 ng/g lipid weight, and the highest serum pool concentration (in the 30- to 39-yr-old male group) was 780 ng/g lipid weight. Brominated diphenyl ether-209 was the dominant congener, accounting for 87% of ∑8 PBDE. Compared with a previous study, ∑8 PBDE serum concentrations in the present study showed no change in order of magnitude, but the relative contribution of BDE-209 to ∑8 PBDE was higher. The average concentration of ∑DP in all serum pools was 3.6 ng/g lipid weight, ranging from 1.4 ng/g lipid weight (in the 50- to 59-yr-old male group) to 11 ng/g lipid weight (in the 20- to 29-yr-old male group). The concentration of DP was lower than in other reported studies. The study also detected TBPH in the 30- to 39-yr-old female group, suggesting that TBPH, as an emerging HFR, requires further monitoring.

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