Cleaning oiled shores: laboratory experiments testing the potential use of vegetable oil biodiesels

A series of laboratory experiments were carried out to test the potential of vegetable oil biodiesel for the cleaning of oiled shorelines. In batch experiments, biodiesel was shown to have a considerable capacity to dissolve crude oil, which appears to be dependent on the type of biodiesel used. Pure vegetable oil biodiesels (rapeseed and soybean) were significantly more effective in the cleanup of oiled sands (up to 96%) than recycled waste cooking oil biodiesel (70%).In microcosm and mesocosm experiments, oiled sediments were sprayed with biodiesel and subjected to simulated tides. Microcosm experiments revealed that, of those tested, the highest ratio of biodiesel to crude oil, had the highest effectiveness for cleaning fine sands, with ratios of 2:1 (biodiesel:crude oil) giving the best results. In the mesocosm experiments a ratio 1:1 of soybean biodiesel to crude oil removed 80% of the oil in cobbles and fine sands, 50% in coarse sand and 30% in gravel. Most of the oil was removed with the surface water, with only a small amount being flushed through the sediments. Particle size and pore size were important determinants in the cleanup and mobility of crude oil in the sediments in these static systems. It is expected that the biodiesel effectiveness should improve in the natural environment particularly in exposed beaches with strong wave action. However, more laboratory and field trials are required to confirm the operational use of biodiesel as a shoreline cleaner.     

Effects of herbicide and insecticide interaction on soil entomofauna under maize crop

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the herbicide mixture nicosulfuron + atrazine, with or without the insecticide chlorpyrifos, onto soil entomofauna under maize crop. The treatments, applied 25 days after maize emergence, were represented by a weeded control without insecticide and herbicide, a weeded control with chlorpyrifos, and mixtures of nicosulfuron + atrazine, with or without chlorpyrifos. Arthropods populations, on the soil surface, as well as inside the soil under maize, were principally represented by mites (Arachnida: Acari), decomposer collembolans (Hexapoda:Parainsecta:Collembola) and predator ants (Hymenoptera:Formicidae). The nicosulfuron + atrazine mixture with chlorpyrifos and the isolated chlorpyrifos reduced the population dynamics of all insect groups on the soil surface compared to the weeded control. In the soil, mite and ant populations were reduced after application of the herbicide mixture with chlorpyrifos and of the isolated chlorpyrifos.     

玉米自交系氮效率基因型差异的比较研究

采用溶液培养的方法。选用经田间，土壤试验对N反应有典型差异的玉米自交系478，H21，Wu312,Zong31,Baici，在4个供氮水平下（0.04,0.4,2和4nmol/L)，研究了不同基因型玉米苗期氮素吸收，利用的差异及其原因，结果表明：极低N胁迫条件下（０.04mmol/L),总干重的基因型差异是由根系，地上部的共同作用的结果，高N下，总干重是由地上部的差异所决定的（表1），极低供N条件下，4578的总干重最大，且有较高的氮效率，Wu312,Zong31相对较低，478相对较高的氮效率主要来源于吸收效率的差异。该基因型在低N下总吸氮量最高，H21居中，Baici,Zong31相对较低，478相对较高的氮效率主要来源于吸收效率的差异。该基因型在低N下总吸氮量最高，H21居中，Baici,Zong31,Wu312相对较低（图1），吸收效率的差异主要是由于根系全N量的不同所致（图3），而根系全N量的差异主要是由于根系大小不同（表1），在极低氮水平下，不同基因型玉米根系全氮量的变幅比地上部高出28.1%，高N下（4mmol/L)，全N量的变幅比地上部高出15.4%(图2，图3），在0.04mmol/L下，478与Wu312,Zong31的利用效率不存在显著差异（表2）。     

Gastroenteric Viruses Detection in a Drinking Water Distribution-to-Consumption System in a Low-Income Community in Rio de Janeiro

Food and Environmental Virology - The availability of drinking water is one of the main determinants of quality of life, disease prevention and the promotion of health. Viruses are important agents...     

喀斯特地区丛枝菌根真菌多样性研究进展

丛枝菌根真菌（Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi,AM真菌）在喀斯特地区生态修复中具有潜在的可利用性,关于喀斯特地区AM真菌多样性以及生态功能的研究已成为近年来的热点问题。本文归纳了喀斯特地区分离出的AM真菌名录,旨在为喀斯特高效生态修复菌种筛选提供支撑材料。综述了喀斯特地区土壤石灰性、营养物质匮乏、空间异质性强,植被逆向演替、植物种类多样等特点对喀斯特地区AM真菌多样性的影响规律,总结了AM真菌对于喀斯特地区土壤结构、营养元素循环、植物抗旱性、植物个体养分吸收、植被演替方面的生理生态功能及作用机理,以期为喀斯特地区AM真菌适生性研究、AM真菌潜在生态功能有效利用、AM真菌-植物共生体系筛选与培育等环节做出指引,为菌根技术在喀斯特生态修复中的应用提供理论基础。未来的研究应进一步深入探究AM真菌多样性影响机制,探讨AM真菌与植物适生性之间的关系,以及加强AM真菌-植物共生体系筛选与培育。     

Hepatitis A Virus,Hepatitis E Virus,and Rotavirus in Foods of Animal Origin Traded at the Borders of Brazil,Argentina, and Uruguay

The aim of this study was to investigate hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis E (HEV), and rotavirus (RV) in fresh and processed meat traded on the border of Brazil with Argentina and Uruguay. In total, 159 samples of raw and processed foods of animal origin were collected in Paso de los Libres, Argentina (n?=?53 raw meat, n?=?24 processed meat) and Rivera, Uruguay (n?=?55 raw meat, n?=?18 processed meat), or were seized by the Brazilian International Agricultural Surveillance System—VIGIAGRO (Brazil–Argentina border) (n?=?8 raw meat, n?=?1 bush meat). All samples were tested for the presence of HAV, HEV, and RV genomes. HAV genes were detected in 18.23% of samples and RV genes in 23.89%. No HEV-positive samples were detected. HAV was also detected in two of the VIGIAGRO samples. Processed meats from Argentina and Uruguay had a higher rate of HAV and RV than raw meat (P?>?0.05). The median HAV in the Argentinian and Uruguayan samples was 6.9?×?10⁴ and 3.5?×?10³ copies/g, respectively. The presence of RV viral genes in raw meats from Argentina was significant, and this was not observed in processed meats. The presence of HAV and RV genes in a significant portion of products from Argentina and Uruguay is a potential source of human infection. This also indicates precarious conditions of acquisition, processing, and manipulation, which could be improved by improved regulation of food across borders.     

18650型锂离子电池燃烧特性及火灾危险性评估

为评估18650型锂离子电池的火灾危险性,以3种不同品牌的商品三元18650型锂离子电池为研究对象,采用锥形量热仪在不同辐射热和荷电状态下对3种电池进行了燃烧试验,分析了电池的热释放参数、烟参数、毒性参数和质量损失参数。并在试验的基础上构建了锂离子电池火灾危险性综合评估指标体系,计算了这3种电池在辐射热35kW/m^2及品牌1的18650型锂离子电池在25 kW/m^2条件下的火灾危险指数。结果表明:电池的热参数和毒性参数随电池荷电状态(SOC)和辐射热增大而增大,满电状态下的品牌1电池在辐射热为50 kW/m^2、35 kW/m^2和25 kW/m^2时的热释放速率峰值分别为9.23 kW、8.64 kW和6.26 kW;生烟量随电池SOC和辐射热增大而减小;综合评估得出了3种电池的火灾危险性。     

海水对含水层沉积物中镭解吸的模拟实验

本研究采用莱州湾沿岸含水层中的沉积物,通过渗滤实验模拟镭的解吸过程。结果表明,在典型的地下水流速范围内(0.02~0.30 cm/min),镭同位素(223Ra、224Ra、226Ra)的解吸没有显著变化。在海水与淡水的混合过程中,解吸的镭比活度与水的盐度呈显著的线性正相关关系。当盐度超过海水盐度时(如S=80的卤水中),解吸的镭比活度则趋于最值平台。对比模拟估算的地下水中镭的比活度与莱州湾沿岸实测间隙水中镭的比活度,223Ra和224Ra的结果基本一致,而226Ra的实测结果较模拟估算结果偏小。可能由于含水层中226Ra经反复解吸后得不到母体核素及时补充所致。本研究将为更好地理解镭同位素在含水层中的地球化学行为提供科学依据,为合理地选择量化海底地下水排放(submarine groundwater discharge,SGD)模型的镭端元值提供新的参考视角。     

Histopathological changes in the earthworm Eisenia andrei associated with the exposure to metals and radionuclides

Earthworms were exposed for 56 d to a contaminated soil, from an abandoned uranium mine, and to the natural reference soil LUFA 2.2. Histological changes in earthworm’s body wall (epidermis, circular and longitudinal muscles) and gastrointestinal tract (chloragogenous tissue and intestinal epithelium) were assessed, after 0, 14 and 56 d of exposure. Results have shown alterations in all the studied tissues after 14 d of exposure (except for the intestinal epithelium), yet more severe effects were registered after 56 d of exposure. Herein we report histopathological alterations as a good biomarker for the evaluation of soil quality. We also demonstrate that morphological changes in the body wall and gastrointestinal tract, are important endpoints that could be added to earthworm’s standardized tests, for the evaluation of soil toxicity, as part of the risk assessment of contaminated areas.     

Effects of tertiary treatment by fungi on organic compounds in a kraft pulp mill effluent

Background, aim and scope  

Pulp and paper mills generate a plethora of pollutants depending upon the type of pulping process. Efforts to mitigate the environmental impact of such effluents have been made by developing more effective biological treatment systems in terms of biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, colour and lignin content. This study is the first that reports an evaluation of the effects of a tertiary treatment by fungi (Pleurotus sajor caju, Trametes versicolor and Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Rhizopus oryzae) on individual organic compounds of a Eucalyptus globulus bleached kraft pulp and paper mill final effluent after secondary treatment (final effluent).