In situ bioaccumulation of metals by Prosopis juliflora and its detoxification potential at the metal contaminated sites.

Heavy metals emanate from diverse anthropogenic activities and the top soil in the vicinity of these activities acts as an immediate sink and facilitates diffusion of heavy metals into the food chain. In the semi-arid plains of India, Prosopis juliflora is the most common and dominant weed along the motorways and barren lands including industrial environs. This investigation hypothesizes the adaptive nature of Prosopis juliflora in the metal enriched soils and attempts to understand its hyper-accumulating potential of metals besides bioconversion/detoxification capability. Prosopis juliflora samples (root, stem, leaves, and pods) from 100 sites in the environs of anthropogenic activities (vehicular emissions and industrial operations) were analyzed for heavy metal concentrations (Cu, Fe, Cr, Cd, Ni, Pb). Prosopis juliflora accumulate metals at the rate of 0.138 mg/kg/day DW for Copper (Cu), Fe: 0.142 mg/kg/day DW, Cr: 0.114 mg/kg/day DW, Ni: 0.048 mg/kg/day DW, Pb: 0.052 mg/kg/day DW, Cd: 0.009 mg/kg/day DW. Furthermore, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) metal oxidation state analysis revealed that in the pods of Prosopis juliflora heavy metals (Fe, Cr, Pb) largely existed in non-toxic form (toxic:non-toxic - 3:6), while in the under canopy soil, metals predominantly existed in toxic form (toxic:non-toxic - 7:2); conclusively XPS results ascertains the heavy metal bioconversion/detoxification potential of the plant. These findings suggest that presence of Prosopis juliflora coppice in the barren landscapes across the transportation corridors and metal based industrial zones may ideally favor phyto-remediation of heavy metals.

Characterization of carbon fluxes, stock and nutrients in the sacred forest groves and invasive vegetation stands within the human dominated landscapes of a tropical semi-arid region.

In the semi-arid plains of Southern India, outside the protected area network, sacred groves forests and the barren lands invaded by Prosopis juliflora are reckoned to be the major greenery, but have homogenous and heterogeneous vegetation respectively. This study attempted to compare 50 Sacred Groves Stands (SGS) and 50 monodominant Prosopis juliflora Stands (PJS) for the functional diversity, evenness, floral diversity, carbon stock and dynamics, carbon-fixing traits, dendrochronology of trees, soil nutrient profiles, and soil erosion. Quadrat sample survey was adopted to record stand density, species richness, abundance, basal area and leaf area index; composite soil samples were collected at depths 0-30 cm for nutrient profiling (N, P, K, and OC). Photosynthesis rate (µmole co2 m2/sec), air temperature (°c), leaf intracellular co2 concentration (ppm), ambient photosynthetic active radiation (µmole m2/sec), transpiration rate (m. mole H2O m2/sec) were determined for the 51 tree species existed in SGS and PJS using Plant Photosynthesis system. Structural Equation Model (SEM) was applied to derive the carbon sequestering potential and photosynthetic efficiency of eight dominant tree species using vital input parameters, including eco-physiological, morphological, and biochemical characterization. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model, in conjunction with ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS 10.3, was adopted to map soil loss. Carbon source/sink determinations inferred through Net Ecosystem Productivity (NEP) assessments showed that mature SGS potentially acted as a carbon sink (0.06 ± 0.01 g C/m2/day), while matured PJS acted as a carbon source (-0.34 ± 0.12 g C/m2/day). Soil erosion rates were significantly greater (29.5 ± 13.4 ton/ha/year) in SGS compared to PJS (7.52 ± 2.55 ton/ha/year). Of the eight selected tree species, SEM revealed that trees belonging to the family Fabaceae [Wrightia tinctoria (estimated coefficient: 1.28, p = 0.02) > Prosopis juliflora (1.22, p = 0.01) > Acacia nilotica (1.21, p = 0.03) > Albizia lebbeck (0.97, p = 0.01)] showed comparatively high carbon sequestering ability.

(2E)-1-(2-Methyl-4-phenyl-quinolin-3-yl)-3-(3-methyl-thio-phen-2-yl)prop-2-en-1-one.

In the title compound, C24H19NOS, the quinoline residue (r.m.s. deviation = 0.018 Å) is essentially orthogonal to both the phenyl [dihedral angle = 88.95 (8)°] and 2-thienyl [81.98 (9)°] rings. The carbonyl O atom lies to one side of the quinoline plane, the carbonyl C atom is almost coplanar and the remaining atoms of the chalcone residue lies to the other side, so that overall the mol-ecule has an L-shape. The conformation about the ethyl-ene bond [1.340 (2) Å] is E. In the crystal, a supra-molecular chain with the shape of a square rod aligned along the b-axis direction is sustained by C-H⋯π inter-actions, the π-systems being the heterocyclic rings.

(2E)-1-(2,4-Dimethyl-quinolin-3-yl)-3-phenyl-prop-2-en-1-one.

Two independent mol-ecules comprise the asymmetric unit of the title compound, C20H17NO, which differ in the orientation of the terminal phenyl ring with respect to the quinoline ring [the dihedral angles are 75.72 (11) and 84.53 (12)° for the two mol-ecules]. The conformation about each of the ethyl-ene bonds [1.329 (3) and 1.318 (3) Å] is E. The crystal structure features a combination of C-H⋯N, C-H⋯π and π-π contacts [inter-centroid between the phenyl ring and the quinoline benzene ring is 3.6024 (19) Å], generating a three-dimensional network.

[meso-5,10,15,20-Tetra-kis(3-methyl-thio-phen-2-yl)porphyrinato-κ(4) N,N',N'',N''']nickel(II) benzene hemisolvate.

In the title compound, [Ni(C40H28N4S4)]·0.5C6H6, the Ni(II) atom is in a square-planar geometry defined by four pyrrole N atoms. There is considerable buckling in the porphyrin ring with the dihedral angles between the N4 donor set and the pyrrole rings being in the range 16.24 (5)-22.47 (5)°. Each of the six-membered chelate rings is twisted about an Ni-N bond and the dihedral angles between diagonally opposite chelate rings are 21.36 (4) and 23.87 (4)°; each pair of rings is oriented in opposite directions. The methyl-thienyl rings are twisted out of the plane of the central N4 core with dihedral angles in the range 75.98 (2)-88.70 (5)°. All four methyl-thienyl groups are disordered over two sets of sites, as is commonly found with such groups, with occupancies of 0.553 (8):0.447 (8), 0.579 (7):0.421 (7), 0.796 (6):0.204 (6) and 0.956 (7):0.044 (7). The benzene solvent mol-ecule was found to be present in half-occupancy.

(2E)-3-(2-Chloro-benzo[h]quinolin-3-yl)-1-(2-methyl-4-phenyl-quinolin-3-yl)prop-2-en-1-one.

In the title compound, C32H21ClN2O, an almost planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.033 Å) prop-2-en-1-one bridge links quinolinyl and benzoquinolinyl residues; the latter are twisted out of the plane of the bridge [dihedral angles = 75.94 (5) and 20.20 (5)°, respectively]. In the crystal, a three-dimensional architecture arises as a result of C-H⋯O, C-H⋯π and π-π [centroid-centroid distances involving pyridine rings = 3.5806 (7)-3.7537 (7) Å] interactions.

(2E)-3-(2-Chloro-7-methyl-quinolin-3-yl)-1-(6-chloro-2-methyl-4-phenyl-quinolin-3-yl)prop-2-en-1-one ethanol monosolvate.

In the title ethanol solvate, C29H20Cl2N2O·C2H5OH, the quinolinyl residues form a dihedral angle of 46.41 (4)° with each other, and each is inclined [Cp-C-C=O and C=C-C-Cp (p = pyridyl) torsion angles = 54.8 (2) and 144.44 (19)°, respectively] with respect to the almost planar bridging prop-2-en-1-one residue [O=C-C=C torsion angle = -4.1 (3)°]. The ethanol solvent mol-ecule is disordered over two positions of equal occupancy and is located close to a centre of inversion. These mol-ecules reside in cavities defined by the organic mol-ecules, which are connected into a three-dimensional architecture by C-H⋯Cl, C-H⋯O and C-H⋯N inter-actions, as well as π-π contacts [inter-centroid distances = 3.5853 (10) and 3.8268 (11) Å], each involving pyridyl rings.

(2E)-3-(6-Chloro-2-meth-oxy-quinolin-3-yl)-1-(2,4-di-methyl-quinolin-3-yl)prop-2-en-1-one.

The mol-ecule of the title compound, C24H19ClN2O2, is bent, with the dihedral angle between the terminal quinoline ring systems being 63.30 (5)°. The quinolinyl residues are connected by an almost planar prop-2-en-1-one bridge (r.m.s. deviation = 0.022 Å), with the dihedral angles between this plane and the appended quinolinyl residues being 75.86 (7) and 38.54 (7)°. The C atom of the meth-oxy group is close to coplanar with its attached ring [deviation = 0.116 (2) Å]. In the crystal, a three-dimensional architecture is constructed by meth-yl-carbonyl C-H⋯O inter-actions and π-π inter-actions between centrosymmetrically related quinolinyl residues [centroid-to-centroid separations 3.5341 (10) and 3.8719 (9) Å].

(2E)-3-(2-Chloro-8-methyl-quinolin-3-yl)-1-(2,4-di-methyl-quinolin-3-yl)prop-2-en-1-one.

In the mol-ecule of the title compound, C24H19ClN2O, the terminal quinolinyl residues are close to perpendicular to each other [dihedral angle 83.72 (4)°]. The quinolinyl residues are connected by and inclined to the prop-2-en-1-one bridge, with the Car-Car-C-C (ar = aromatic) torsion angles being 71.01 (17) and 20.6 (2)°. The crystal structure features phen-yl-carbonyl C-H⋯O inter-actions and π-π inter-actions between centrosymmetrically related quinolinyl residues [3.5341 (10) and 3.8719 (9) Å], which together lead to a three-dimensional architecture.

(2E)-3-(2-Chloro-8-methyl-quinolin-3-yl)-1-(2-methyl-4-phenyl-quinolin-3-yl)prop-2-en-1-one.

In the title compound, C29H21ClN2O, there is a twist in the bridging prop-2-en-1-one group [C=C-C=O torsion angle = 22.7 (2)°]. The quinolinyl residues form a dihedral angle of 86.92 (4)°, indicating an almost perpendicular relationship. In the crystal, supra-molecular layers in the bc plane are stabilized by C-H⋯π and π-π inter-actions [centroid-centroid distance = 3.4947 (7) Å].

(2E)-3-(6-Chloro-2-meth-oxy-quinolin-3-yl)-1-(2-methyl-4-phenyl-quinolin-3-yl)prop-2-en-1-one acetone monosolvate.

In the title solvate, C29H21ClN2O2·C3H6O, a prop-2-en-1-one bridge links two quinolinyl residues; the latter are almost perpendicular [dihedral angle = 78.27 (6)°]. The dihedral angle between the quinonyl ring system and its pendant phenyl group is 59.78 (8)°. A small twist in the bridging prop-2-en-1-one group is noted [O=C-C=C torsion angle = -10.6 (3)°]. In the crystal, a three-dimensional architecture arises as a result of C-H⋯O and π-π stacking [centroid-centroid distances = 3.5504 (12)-3.6623 (12) Å].

3-Acetyl-2,4-di-methyl-quinolin-1-ium chloride.

In the title salt, C13H14NO(+)·Cl(-), the dihedral angle between the fused ring system (r.m.s. deviation = 0.039 Å) and the attached aldehyde group is 75.27 (16)°. In the crystal, the cation and anion are linked by an N-H⋯Cl hydrogen bond and the resulting pairs are connected into four-ion aggregates by π-π inter-actions between the C6 and pyridinium rings [3.6450 (9) Å] of inversion-related quinolinium residues.

(2E)-1-(4-Bromo-phen-yl)-3-[3-(4-meth-oxy-phen-yl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]prop-2-en-1-one.

The pyrazole ring in the title compound, C25H19BrN2O2, is almost planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.003 Å) and forms dihedral angles of 7.56 (13) and 56.48 (13)° with the N- and C-bound benzene rings, respectively. The prop-2-en-1-one residue has an E conformation about the C=C double bond [1.328 (4) Å] and is almost coplanar with the pyrazole ring [C-C-C-C torsion angle = -174.4 (3)°]. A twist between the prop-2-en-1-one unit and the terminal benzene ring is evident [C-C-C-C torsion angle = -15.4 (4)°]. In the crystal, mol-ecules are consolidated into a three-dimensional architecture by C-H⋯O, C-H⋯π and π-π [centroid-centroid separation = 3.7597 (16) Å] inter-actions.

(E)-1-(2,4-Dimethyl-quinolin-3-yl)-3-(4-methyl-phen-yl)prop-2-en-1-one.

In the title compound, C(21)H(19)NO, there are two mol-ecules in the asymmetric unit (Z' = 2). There are π-π inter-actions between these two mol-ecules [centroid-centroid distance = 3.678 (2) Å], as well as a weak C-H⋯O inter-action. The conformation adopted by the two mol-ecules is such that the quinoline mean plane and the benzene ring are almost perpendicular [89.04 (5) and 76.89 (4)°]. In each mol-ecule, the methyl group of the tolyl ring is disordered over two conformations, with occupancy ratios of 0.56 (3):0.44 (3) and 0.65 (3):0.35 (3).

[meso-5,10,15,20-Tetra-kis(5-bromo-thio-phen-2-yl)porphyrinato-κ(4)N,N',N'',N''']nickel(II).

The Ni(II) atom in the title porphyrin complex, [Ni(C(36)H(16)Br(4)N(4)S(4))], is in a square-planar geometry defined by four pyrrole N atoms. There is considerable buckling in the porphyrin ring with the dihedral angles between the N(4) donor set and the pyrrole rings being in the range 17.0 (3)-18.8 (3)°. Each of the six-membered chelate rings is twisted about an Ni-N bond and the dihedral angles between diagonally opposite chelate rings are 13.08 (15) and 13.45 (11)°; each pair of rings is orientated in opposite directions. The bromo-thienyl rings are twisted out of the plane of the central N(4) core with dihedral angles in the range 51.7 (2)-74.65 (19)°. Supra-molecular chains along [001] are formed through C-H⋯Br inter-actions in the crystal packing. Three of the four bromo-thienyl units are disordered over two coplanar positions of opposite orientation with the major components being in 0.691 (3), 0.738 (3) and 0.929 (9) fractions.

On mitigation of earthquake and landslide hazards in the eastern Himalayan region.

Mitigation of geological hazards through science and engineering applications is one of the most effective ways to reduce their impact on human life and local infrastructure. It involves precise mapping of hazards, assessment of their potential, monitoring, early warning, geotechnical treatment, design of vital infrastructural facilities and creating awareness at local levels. Several such initiatives have been taken at government level to deal with the earthquakes and landslides in the eastern Himalayan region. These efforts facilitated identification of potential areas and sites, susceptible to future events and helped in improving our understanding of crustal structure, geodynamics, tectonics, seismogenesis, and soil properties, etc. The paper highlights details of the major initiatives, significant achievements, and priorities to help in better mitigation of earthquake and landslide hazards in the eastern Himalayan region.

3-(4-Meth-oxy-phen-yl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carbaldehyde.

Four independent mol-ecules comprise the asymmetric unit of the title compound, C(17)H(14)N(2)O(2). The central pyrazoline ring is flanked by an N-bound benzene ring and a C-bound meth-oxy-substituted benzene ring. The greatest difference between the independent mol-ecules is found in the relative orientations of the benzene rings with the range of dihedral angles being 23.59 (6)-42.55 (6)°. In the crystal, extensive C-H⋯O inter-actions link mol-ecules into layers parallel to (02[Formula: see text]) and these are linked by C-H⋯π contacts.

(2E)-1-(2,4-Dimethyl-quinolin-3-yl)-3-(thio-phen-2-yl)prop-2-en-1-one.

Two independent but virtually identical mol-ecules comprise the asymmetric unit in the title compound, C(18)H(15)NOS. With reference to the quinolin-3-yl group, the 3-(thio-phen-2-yl)prop-2-en-1-one residue is almost perpendicular, with all but the carbonyl O atom lying to one side of the plane. This conformation is reflected by the C-C-C-C torsion angles of -102.2 (3) and 81.1 (3)° in the two independent mol-ecules. The dihedral angle formed between the 13 non-H atoms directly associated with the quinolin-3-yl group and the thio-phen-2-yl ring is 87.70 (11)° [83.85 (10)° for the second independent mol-ecule]. The presence of C-H⋯O, C-H⋯N and π-π inter-actions [centroid-centroid distance = 3.5590 (12) Å] lead to supra-molecular chains along the c-axis direction. These are connected along the a-axis direction by C-H⋯π inter-actions. The resultant supra-molecular layers stack along the b axis.

3-(4-Bromo-phen-yl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carbaldehyde.

In the title compound, C(16)H(11)BrN(2)O, the phenyl and chloro-benzene rings are twisted out of the mean plane of the pyrazole ring, forming dihedral angles of 13.70 (10) and 36.48 (10)°, respectively. The carbaldehyde group is also twisted out of the pyrazole plane [the C-C-C-O torsion angle is 7.9 (3)°]. A helical supra-molecular chain along the b axis and mediated by C-H⋯O inter-actions is the most prominent feature of the crystal packing.

1-(6,8-Dibromo-2-methyl-quinolin-3-yl)ethanone.

Two independent mol-ecules,1 and 2, with similar conformations comprise the asymmetric unit in the title compound, C(12)H(9)Br(2)NO. The major difference between the mol-ecules relates to the relative orientation of the ketone-methyl groups [the C-C-C-C torsion angles are -1.7 (6) and -16.8 (6)° for mol-ecules 1 and 2, respectively]; in each case, the ketone O atom is directed towards the ring-bound methyl group. The crystal packing comprises layers of mol-ecules, sustained by C-H⋯O and π-π {ring centroid(C(6)) of molecule 2 with NC(5) of molecule 1 [3.584 (3) Å] and NC(5) of molecule 2 [3.615 (3) Å]} interactions. C-H⋯Br contacts also occur.