Approaches to studying the genomic architecture of complex birth defects

Every year nearly 6 percent of children worldwide are born with a serious congenital malformation, resulting in death or lifelong disability. In the United States, birth defects remain one of the leading causes of infant mortality. Among the common structural congenital defects are conditions known as neural tube defects (NTDs). These are a class of malformation of the brain and spinal cord where the neural tube fails to close during the neurulation. Although NTDs remain among the most pervasive and debilitating of all human developmental anomalies, there is insufficient understanding of their etiology. Previous studies have proposed that complex birth defects like NTDs are likely omnigenic, involving interconnected gene regulatory networks with associated signals throughout the genome. Advances in technologies have allowed researchers to more critically investigate regulatory gene networks in ever increasing detail, informing our understanding of the genetic basis of NTDs. Employing a systematic analysis of these complex birth defects using massively parallel DNA sequencing with stringent bioinformatic algorithms, it is possible to approach a greater level of understanding of the genomic architecture underlying NTDs. Herein, we present a brief overview of different approaches undertaken in our laboratory to dissect out the genetics of susceptibility to NTDs. This involves the use of mouse models to identify candidate genes, as well as large scale whole genome/whole exome (WGS/WES) studies to interrogate the genomic landscape of NTDs. The goal of this research is to elucidate the gene-environment interactions contributing to NTDs, thus encouraging global research efforts in their prevention.     

Application of Transferable Development Rights in Cultivated Land Protection in China

To analyze current policies on cultivated land protection, this article discusses the application of transferable development rights in cultivated land protection by examining the connotation, operation mechanism, and construction on the market mechanism, benefits driving forces, and expected benefits. The results suggest that economic incentives and fairness have been neglected in previous policies on cultivated land protection. Moreover, the introduction of transferable development rights can not only eliminate the imbalance of interests, but also enhance the incentives for farmers and developers. In addition, it can significantly reduce the fiscal expenditure of the government.     

浸没式膜-生物反应器膜面污染物性质研究

研究了浸没式平板膜-生物反应器冬季运行时的膜污染状况.结果表明,出水COD稳定,但出现了亚硝酸盐积累,总氮的去除不是很理想.凝胶过滤色谱测定结果发现,O段混合液经0.45 靘滤膜过滤的滤液和膜面污染物含有重均分子量千万级以上的大分子物质,而进水中并无此类物质.环境扫描电镜和能谱分析表明,膜面无机污染物的阳离子主要包括Na、Mg、Al、Si、K、Ca和Fe.傅立叶红外光谱分析证明,膜面有机污染物主要是多糖和蛋白质等物质,而且胞外聚合物可能是造成膜面污染的主要物质之一.     

甲氰菊酯降解菌鉴定及其降解特性

从农药厂污泥中分离到一株能降解甲氰菊酯的光合细菌PSB07-19.鉴定结果表明,PSB07-19为沼泽红假单胞菌(Rhodopseudomonas palustris),其最适生长温度为30℃,最适pH为6.5.实验结果表明,该菌以共代谢方式降解甲氰菊酯,对甲氰菊酯的最大耐受质量浓度为600 mg/L,培养15 d对400 mg/L甲氰菊酯的降解率达45.51%,降解最适pH、温度分别为7.5、30℃.     

用硅橡胶平板复合膜分离苯酚时总传质系数的影响因素

用硅橡胶平板复合膜处理高浓度含酚废水，测定了体系的总传质系数（Kov），分析了温度、盐离子强度、跨膜压差（△p）、膜厚度对Kov的影响。实验结果表明：Kov随温度的升高而呈线性增加，传质通量与温度的关系符合Arrhenius方程；当△p〈0．1MPa时，Kov与压力无关；当△p〉0．1MPa时，压差升高可提高传质系数，但会导致膜的致密化；离子强度改变了苯酚在相间的分配系数，进而影响传质过程；膜厚度降低能有效提高膜的Kov；在膜活性皮层厚度4μm、pH12．5～13．0、温度323．15K、废水流量1205mL／min、废水中苯酚质量浓度7．78g/L、无压差和离子强度的条件下，运行8h后，Kov为16．1×10^-7m／s。     

天氧污泥对问二氯苯的吸附性能

为了研究灭活厌氧污泥和活性厌氧污泥对问二氯苯（m-DCB）的吸附，考察了吸附平衡时间、吸附动力学、吸附等温线、吸附热力学、污泥投加量和pH对吸附m-DCB的影响。结果表明，2种污泥对m-DCB的吸附在1h内达到平衡。应用伪一级、伪二级反应动力学对实验数据进行验证，表明厌氧污泥吸附m-DCB更符合伪二级反应动力学模型。2种污泥对m-DCB的吸附都可以用Langmuir和Freundlich吸附模型拟合，但Langrnuir吸附模型的拟合结果要好于Freundlich模型，且活性厌氧污泥的吸附性能显著高于灭活厌氧污泥。从吸附热力学上看，该吸附为放热反应，低温有利于吸附反应的进行。pH值对2种污泥吸附m-DCB的影响很小。     

不同挂膜方式生物滴滤塔处理含H2S恶臭气体

采用菌剂挂膜，活性污泥挂膜和自然挂膜3种不同方式形成生物滴滤塔，考察挂膜方式对生物滴滤塔去除H2s恶臭气体的影响。结果表明，当进气H2S浓度为5mg／m3时，菌剂挂膜、活性污泥挂膜、自然挂膜形成的生物滴滤塔出气H2s浓度分别为15．7～17．4、11．6～14．8和15．0～15．9μg／m3；塔内压降分别为3—4mm水柱、6mm水柱和4—5mm水柱；喷淋后滤出液中硫酸根的浓度分别为14、22和17mg／L，硫的转化率分别为45％、60％和50％。当进气H2S浓度增大至7mg／m3时，3个塔经过7d的调整后，均能达到稳定状态，稳定后3个塔中出气H2s浓度和压降基本没变，喷淋后滤出液中硫酸根浓度依次增大至25、31和30mg／L左右。采用活性污泥挂膜形成的生物滴滤塔处理H2s的能力比菌剂挂膜和自然挂膜的高。     

Genotoxicity of oxy-PAHs to Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) embryos assessed using the comet assay

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have long been recognized as important environmental toxicants. Despite a plethora of information on the fate and effects of parent PAHs, relatively little is known about the environmental fate and toxicity of ketone- and quinone-substituted PAH oxidation products (termed oxy-PAHs), particularly in the aquatic environment. This study begins to fill that gap using embryos of the Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) as a model species. The genotoxic potential of two environmentally relevant oxy-PAHs, acenaphthenequinone and 7,12-benz[a]anthracenquinone, was assessed using the comet assay. We found that both oxy-PAHs could cause significant increases in DNA damage after only 48 h of exposure at the lowest concentrations tested (5 μg/L). Comparisons of the genotoxic potential between these oxy-PAHs and their corresponding parent PAHs (acenaphthene and benz[a]anthracene) and a well-known mutagenic PAH, benzo[a]pyrene, indicated similar potencies among all five of these compounds, particularly after longer (7 day) exposures. This study demonstrates the mutagenic potential of oxy-PAHs to an in vivo fish embryo model and points out the need for further study of their environmental occurrence and biologic effects.     

秦皇岛沿海灾害性天气对自然环境的影响和预报

风暴潮天气是一种灾害性的自然现象。一般情况下,大于500 km的东到东北大风持续12个小时,且风速大于或等于6级,将在秦皇岛沿海形成风暴潮天气。通过分析引发风暴潮天气的动力条件,风暴潮与台风、温带气旋等天气系统相关联系,再根据天文、潮汐变化、台风、温带气旋24 h诊断预报,判断台风、温带气旋移动径,从而达到准确预报风暴潮天气之目的。分析表明:成灾风暴潮多发生在朔日和望日及其后的5天。     

问题驱动教学法在环境法课程中的应用

在问题驱动教学法下,在自主学习中提出问题、解决问题是重点,进行学习效果评价、形成反馈信息是总结提高阶段,每一个环节都必须统筹安排、合理兼顾。环境法课程教学活动中合理采用问题驱动教学法不仅充分体现了学生为主体、老师为主导的现代教育思想,而且极大地调动了学生的积极性和创造性,也为提高学生的实践能力和创新能力营造了良好的氛围。