Effect of Humic Acid on the Bioavailability of γ-Hexachlorocyclohexane in Marsilea Minuta (L.)

Effect of various concentrations of humic acid (0.2 to 1%) on thebioavailability of -HCH in vegetative clones of theaquatic fern Marsilea minuta was studied in a staticexperimental bioassay system on different photoperiods. Additionof humic acid showed the reduction in the bioavailability of-HCH in all the photoperiods (72 hr light to 144 hrlight) at the interval of 16 hr light (L) and 8 hr dark (D) inboth aerial and submerged portion as compared to controlindicating its protective role in toxicity.     

两种培养基对饮水机出水中细菌总数的测定效果比较

采用营养琼脂培养基和R2A Agar培养基对上海某高校及其附属小学公用饮水机出水细菌总数变化规律进行了测试分析比较。结果表明,在洁净饮用水受微生物微污染情况下,R2A Agar培养基更适合这种贫营养环境中的微生物的培养,比营养琼脂培养基具有更好的灵敏度。     

徐州市发展循环型经济的必要性研究

循环经济理论是上个世纪末环境革命的产物。循环经济要求以“减量化(Reduce)、再使用(Reuse)、再循环(Recycle)”的3R原则为社会经济活动的准则。文章概略地介绍了循环经济的起源和内涵,分析了循环经济应用的3个层面,指出了建立循环型经济是徐州市推进可持续发展的战略选择,并提出了徐州市建立循环经济的几点建议。     

大树杜鹃Rhododendron protistum var.giganteum和蓝果杜鹃Rhododendron cyanocarpum的濒危原因研究

大树杜鹃ＲｐｒｏｔｉｓｔｕｍｖａｒｇｉｇａｎｔｅｕｍＦｏｒｒｅｓｔｅｔＴａｇｇＣｈａｍｂｅｎｉａｉｎ和蓝果杜鹃ＲｃｙａｎｏｃａｒｐｕｍＦ．Ｗ．Ｓｍｉｔｈ被定为国家三级保护植物［１］。本文对这两种保护植物从资源调查、原产地的土壤分析、种子繁殖和贮存方式、异地保护和异地栽培条件下幼苗生长等４个方面作了濒危原因研究。研究结果表明：大树杜鹃应就地和异地保护并用，蓝果杜鹃则应采取就地保护为宜。     

Enzymatic degradation of poly([R,S] β-hydroxybutyrate)

The synthetic analogue of a bacterially produced polyester, poly(-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) was synthesized from racemic -butyrolactone using anin situ trimethyl aluminum-water catalyst. The polymer was fractionated into samples differing in molecular weight and isotactic diad content. The latter was closely related to degree of crystallinity. The biodegradation of these fractions were examined by monitoring mass loss over time in the presence of anAlcaligenes faecalis T1 extracellular bacterial poly(-hydroxybutyrate) depolymerase. The fraction with high isotactic diad tacticity content showed little or no degradation over a 50 hour incubation period, whereas the fraction of intermediate isotactic diad content degraded in a continuous steady fashion at a rate that was less than that for bacterial PHB. The low isotactic diad fraction underwent a rapid initial degradation, followed by no further mass loss. The presence of stereoblocks in the polymer structure of the various fractions was an influence on the degree of susceptibility towards degradation and is related to sample crystallinity.     

重庆地区吴茱萸属药用植物资源的调查研究

经调查鉴定，重庆地区吴茱萸属药用植物有9种（含种下等级），首次发现吴茱萸红花品系。重点介绍了它们的生境分布、药材商品与生产经营现状等，并编制了分种检索表，为科研、教学、生产经营及开发利用提供了科学依据。     

摩擦清洗修复铅污染土壤的参数优化及清洗效率评价

采用摩擦清洗法修复铅污染场地土壤,主要目的是将细颗粒和铅污染物从砂粒表面去除.通过正交实验优化清洗参数,并对3份不同铅含量土壤进行摩擦清洗实验.优化的清洗参数为:水土比70%干物质、温度25℃、搅拌时间30 min、搅拌速率1 200 r.mim-1.摩擦清洗前土壤经过筛分化验分析表明,3份土壤铅主要富集在砂粒和粉黏粒中;铅的分布与有机质有极大相关性.结果表明,经过摩擦清洗后,3份原状铅污染土壤砂粒的清洗效率分别为:67.61%、31.71%、41.01%,摩擦清洗从砂粒表面去除一部分细粒土壤和铅污染物,使铅浓缩至粉黏粒中;扫描电镜(SEM)分析表明,摩擦清洗后砂粒表面变光滑.以上结论说明摩擦清洗对于铅污染场地的砂粒土壤具有较好的清洗效果.     

Modulation of steroidogenesis by coastal waters and sewage effluents of Hong Kong, China, using the H295R assay

BACKGROUND, AIM, AND SCOPE: The presence of a variety of pollutants in the aquatic environment that can potentially interfere with the production of sex steroid hormones in wildlife and humans has been of increasing concern. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of extracts from Hong Kong marine waters, and influents and effluents from wastewater treatment plants on steroidogenesis using the H295R cell bioassay. After exposing H295R cells to extracts of water, the expression of four steroidogenic genes and the production of three steroid hormones were measured. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Water samples were collected during the summer of 2005 from 24 coastal marine areas and from the influents and effluents of two major waste water treatment plants (WWTPs) in Hong Kong, China. Samples were extracted by solid phase extraction (SPE). H295R cells were exposed for 48 h to dilutions of these extracts. Modulations of the expression of the steroidogenic genes CYP19, CYP17, 3betaHSD2, and CYP11beta2 were determined by measuring mRNA concentrations by real-time polymerase chain reaction (Q-RT-PCR). Production of the hormones progesterone (P), estradiol (E2), and testosterone (T) was quantified using enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). RESULTS: Extracts from samples collected in two fish culture areas inhibited growth and proliferation of H295R cells at concentrations greater or equal to 10(5) L equivalents. The cells were exposed to the equivalent concentration of active substances in 10,000 L of water. Thus, to observe the same level of effect as observed in vitro on aquatic organisms would require a bioaccumulation factor of this same magnitude. None of the other 22 marine samples affected growth of the cells at any dilution tested. Twelve of the marine water samples completely inhibited the expression of CYP19 without affecting E2 production; inhibition of CYP17 expression was observed only in one of the samples while expression of CYP11beta2 was induced as much as five- and ninefold after exposure of cells to extracts from two locations. The expression of the progesterone gene 3betaHSD2 was not affected by any of the samples; only one sample induced approximately fourfold the production of E2. Although more than twofold inductions were observed for P and T production, none of these values were statistically significant to conclude effects on the production of these two hormones. While influents from WWTPs did not affect gene expression, an approximately 30% inhibition in the production of E2 and a 40% increase in P occurred for the exposure with influents from the Sha Tin and Stonecutters WWTPs, respectively. Effluents from WWTPs did not affect the production of any of the studied hormones, but a decrement in the expression of the aldosterone gene CYP11beta2 was observed for the Sha Tin WWTP exposure. No direct correlation could be established between gene expression and hormone production. DISCUSSION: Observed cytotoxicity in the two samples from fish culture areas suggest the presence of toxic compounds; chemical analysis is required for their full identification. Although effluents from WWTPs did not affect hormone production, other types of endocrine activity such as receptor-mediated effects cannot be ruled out. Interactions due to the complexity of the samples and alternative steroidogenic pathways might explain the lack of correlation between gene expression and hormone production results. CONCLUSIONS: Changes observed in gene expression and hormone production suggest the presence in Hong Kong coastal waters of pollutants with endocrine disruption potential and others of significant toxic effects. The aromatase and aldosterone genes seem to be the most affected by the exposures, while E2 and P are the hormones with more significant changes observed. Results also suggest effectiveness in the removing of compounds with endocrine activity by the WWTPs studied, as effluent samples did not significantly affect hormone production. The H295R cell showed to be a valuable toll in the battery required for the analysis of endocrine disrupting activities of complex environmental samples. RECOMMENDATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES: Due to the intrinsic complexity of environmental samples, a combination of analytical tools is required to realistically assess environmental conditions, especially in aquatic systems. In the evaluation of endocrine disrupting activities, the H295R cell bioassay should be used in combination with other genomic, biological, chemical, and hydrological tests to establish viable modes for endocrine disruption and identify compounds responsible for the observed effects.     

Photovoltaic-thermal (PV/t) panel to minimize electrical and air conditioning energy consumption of a typical office in Beirut

A combined photovoltaic–thermal (PV/t) panel is proposed to produce simultaneously electricity and heat from one integrated unit. The unit utilizes effectively the solar energy through achieving higher PV electrical efficiency and using the thermal energy for heating applications. To predict the performance of the PV/t at a given environmental conditions, a transient mathematical model was developed. The model was integrated in a heating application for a typical office space in the city of Beirut to provide the office needs for electricity, heating during winter season, and dehumidification and evaporative cooling during the summer season. To minimize the yearly office energy (electrical and heat) needs, the PV/t panel cooling air flow rate and the dehumidification regeneration temperature were determined for opimal unit operation. Thermal energy savings of up to 85% in winter and 71% in summer were achived compared to conventional systems at a payback period of 8 years for the panels.