Quantification of hookworm ova from wastewater matrices using quantitative PCR

A quantitative PCR(q PCR) assay was used to quantify Ancylostoma caninum ova in wastewater and sludge samples.We estimated the average gene copy numbers for a single ovum using a mixed population of ova.The average gene copy numbers derived from the mixed population were used to estimate numbers of hookworm ova in A.caninum seeded and unseeded wastewater and sludge samples.The newly developed qP CR assay estimated an average of3.7 × 10~3 gene copies per ovum,which was then validated by seeding known numbers of hookworm ova into treated wastewater.The qP CR estimated an average of(1.1 ± 0.1),(8.6 ± 2.9)and(67.3 ± 10.4) ova for treated wastewater that was seeded with(1 ± 0),(10 ± 2) and(100 ± 21)ova,respectively.The further application of the q PCR assay for the quantification of A.caninum ova was determined by seeding a known numbers of ova into the wastewater matrices.The qP CR results indicated that 50%,90% and 67% of treated wastewater(1 L),raw wastewater(1 L)and sludge(~4 g) samples had variable numbers of A.caninum gene copies.After conversion of the q PCR estimated gene copy numbers to ova for treated wastewater,raw wastewater,and sludge samples,had an average of 0.02,1.24 and 67 ova,respectively.The result of this study indicated that qP CR can be used for the quantification of hookworm ova from wastewater and sludge samples;however,caution is advised in interpreting qP CR generated data for health risk assessment.     

History of Dutch process equipment failure frequencies and the Purple Book

In the middle of 70s concerns of the public in the Netherlands about fire, explosion and toxic risks due to mishaps in the expanding process industry, causing political pressure led to the embracement of quantitative risk analysis as tool for licensing and land-use planning. Probabilistic treatment of risk had been exercised before to design flood defense. A ‘test’ on six different plants, the COVO study, favored the idea. Failure rate values were in immediate need. For storage vessels AKZO’s chlorine vessel data and British steam boiler data have been the first. Risk criteria to make decisions on were also developed and in 1985 embodied in legislation. As licensing and land-use planning are tasks of provincial authorities, under the auspices of the Inter-Provincial Consultation (IPO), further details such as failure frequency values have been worked out. In the late 90s the Purple Book consolidated the information as a guideline for Dutch quantitative risk assessment of process installations.The paper will give a condensed historical overview, guidance to published papers; it will further make comments, explain policy backgrounds, present comparison with other data and will briefly indicate in which direction developments should go to improve QRA.     

烃类沸点的定量构效关系研究

应用CODESSA软件计算296种烃类物质的分子结构描述符,分别用启发式回归（HM）和最佳多元线性回归（B-MLR）筛选计算出的所有分子描述符,并建立沸点的线性回归模型。用B-MLR方法筛选出的4个描述符作为支持向量机（SVM）的输入建立了非线性模型。预测结果表明：所建立的模型稳健,泛化能力强,预测误差小。非线性模型（R2=0.9905,RMSE=10.2295）的性能优于线性回归模型（HM：R2=0.9819,RMSE=14.0606;B-MLR：R2=0.9842,RMSE=13.1058）,预测效果令人满意。     

太湖氮磷浓度与水质因子的关系

在2003年10月27、28日和2004年8月19日的太湖水质试验数据基础上,研究与探讨了氮浓度、磷浓度与叶绿素a浓度、悬浮物浓度和CDOM(Colored Dissolved Organic Matter)浓度之间的定量关系。研究结果表明:①在2003年10月份和2004年8月份,太湖梅梁湾地区水体的氮、磷浓度介于1~4mg/L和0.1~0.3mg/L,该浓度恰好处于易发生水华的营养物质浓度供应区间;②与2004年8月19日相比,2003年10月27、28日的太湖藻类处于低增长、高消亡状态;③在太湖梅梁湾地区,氮、磷浓度与CDOM浓度、叶绿素a浓度和悬浮物浓度之间存在较强的线性相关性,其相关系数大于0.557;④在太湖水体中,磷浓度、CDOM浓度、叶绿素a浓度和悬浮物浓度的四因子关系模型比氮浓度、CDOM浓度、叶绿素a浓度和悬浮物浓度的四因子关系模型的相关系数高。     

Identifying Influences on Model Uncertainty: An Application Using a Forest Carbon Budget Model

Uncertainty is an important consideration for both developers and users of environmental simulation models. Establishing quantitative estimates of uncertainty for deterministic models can be difficult when the underlying bases for such information are scarce. We demonstrate an application of probabilistic uncertainty analysis that provides for refinements in quantifying input uncertainty even with little information. Uncertainties in forest carbon budget projections were examined with Monte Carlo analyses of the model FORCARB. We identified model sensitivity to range, shape, and covariability among model probability density functions, even under conditions of limited initial information. Distributional forms of probabilities were not as important as covariability or ranges of values. Covariability among FORCARB model parameters emerged as a very influential component of uncertainty, especially for estimates of average annual carbon flux.     

Use of value functions in environmental decisions

Value functions are devices that allow discrete analyses of environmental impacts to be reconciled to a single quantitative scale of preference. The values obtained can then be weighted and combined into measures of the relative desirability of policy alternatives. However, for this methodology to be valid, the set of impacts used must satisfy a number of conditions; and whether or not these are met depends on how the impacts are selected and characterized. This paper generalizes instances where the conditions may be violated and how they may be resolved, and concludes with a few thoughts on how the methodology might be adapted to the routine of bureaucracy.This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory under Contract W-7405-ENG-48.     

巢湖夏季和冬季有毒微囊藻和无毒微囊藻种群丰度研究

应用荧光定量PCR技术研究了巢湖夏季和冬季有毒微囊藻和无毒微囊藻种群丰度的空间分布,分析了有毒微囊藻和无毒微囊藻种群丰度与环境因子之间的关系,同时应用HPLC方法分析了水体中溶解性微囊藻毒素浓度.结果表明：巢湖有毒微囊藻和无毒微囊藻种群丰度存在季节和空间差异.总的来说,夏季有毒微囊藻和无毒微囊藻种群丰度高于冬季,西湖区...     

交通标志语义认知与情绪加工的脑电研究

为了让驾驶员更正确快速地理解交通标志,避免不当驾驶行为,探究驾驶员对交通标志的语义认知和情绪加工过程。采用刺激1-刺激2(S1-S2)试验范式,基于事件相关电位(ERPs)技术和脑电信号(EEG)时频(TF)分析方法,研究交通标志语义一致性和情绪唤醒的客观评价指标。结果显示,交通标志和文字语义不一致条件下,同一时间窗表现出更大的N400和θ波活动,证实了交通标志和文字之间存在较大的语义距离;交通标志和文字语义一致条件下,诱发更大的晚期正成分(LPP);N400、θ波和LPP可以用于判断交通标志的语义距离和情绪唤醒。ERPs结合EEG的TF分析结果能从神经科学的视角解释行为数据,可用于测量交通标志理解度。     

High starter phosphorus fertilization facilitates soil phosphorus turnover by romoting microbial functional interaction in an arable soil

Microbial phosphorus (P) turnover is critical in C utilization efficiency in agroecosystems. It is therefore necessary to understand the P mobilization processes occurring during P fertilization in order to ensure both crop yield and environmental quality. Here, we established a controlled pot experiment containing soil amended with three different levels of starter P fertilizer and collected soil samples after 30, 60, and 90 days of incubation. Quantitative microbial element cycling (QMEC) smart chip technology and 16S rRNA gene sequencing were used to investigate functional gene structures involved in carbon, nitrogen and P cycling and the bacterial community composition of the collected samples. Although P fertilization did not significantly affect the structure of the soil microbial community, some rare microbiota were changed in particular phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria were enriched at the high P fertilization level, suggesting that the rare taxa make an important contribution to P turnover. P fertilization also altered the functional gene structure, and high P concentrations enhanced the functional gene diversity and abundance. Partial redundancy analysis further revealed that changes in rare taxa and functional genes of soil microorganisms drive the alteration of soil P pools. These findings extend our understanding of the microbial mechanisms of P turnover.