Introduction of cob(I)alamin as an analytical tool: application to reaction-kinetic studies of oxiranes

The strongly nucleophilic cob(I)alamin, i.e. Vitamin B₁₂ with Co(III) reduced to Co(I), is introduced as a trapping agent in the determination of concentrations of electrophilic reagents. This compound was applied, in comparison with the previously used moderately reactive nicotinamide (H.J.C.F. Nelis and J.E. Sinsheimer (1981). Anal. Biochem., 115, 151.). Oxiranes, metabolites of 1-alkenes, were chosen as model electrophiles. The reagents (nicotinamide and cob(I)alamin) were evaluated in the determination of the rates of reaction toward valine methylamide, a model of N-terminal valines in hemoglobin often used for monitoring of doses in vivo of genotoxic carcinogens. The rate constants for reaction at 37°C with valine methylamide (k _VMA) determined by the cob(I)alamin and nicotinamide procedure, respectively, were for ethylene oxide (1.6, 1.7), propylene oxide (0.9, 1.1), 1,2-epoxybutane (0.7, 0.8) and 1,2-epoxyoctane (0.5, 0.6) M^?1?h^?1, decreasing with increasing number of carbons of the oxirane. Concentrations of oxiranes trapped with nicotinamide are underrated in reaction mixtures containing valine methylamide due to consumption by reaction with the competing nucleophile, a disturbance that is not observed in trapping with cob(I)alamin which reacts about 10⁵ times faster than nicotinamide. Cob(I)alamin which was demonstrated to be an efficient nucleophile for trapping of electrophiles, also in the presence of competing nucleophiles, is promising as an analytical tool in toxicological studies of reactive compounds. Furthermore, cob(I)alamin can be used to detect, measure and compare electrophilic reactivity of chemical substances, a property that is associated with genotoxic potency.     

Removal of C.I. acid brown 75 from aqueous solution by kaolinite

The adsorption of acid brown 75 onto kaolinite in aqueous solution was studied with respect to the pH, adsorbent dosage, contact time, initial concentration, and operating temperature. Desorption of dye from dye-saturated kaolinite was observed. Experimental data indicated that the adsorption capacity of kaolinite for the dye was higher in acidic rather than in basic solution. The maximum adsorption capacity of kaolinite towards the dye was found to be 96.5 mg g^?1 (pH 1.0). At the optimal adsorption condition, the dye removal ratio was 95.5%. Dye-saturated kaolinite could desorb at aqueous NaOH, the desorption ratio of dye was 78.8%. The linear Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models are well fitting to represent the experimental data.     

天津市可吸入颗粒物及元素室内外相关性

选取天津市某社区作为采样点,于2009年8、9月(代表非采暖季)和11、12月(代表采暖季)采集了室内和室外可吸入颗粒物(PM10)样品,以研究天津市PM10及元素的室内外相关性.结果表明,采暖季PM10的室外平均浓度为198.88μg/m3.非采暖季和采暖季PM10的室内外浓度比(I/O比值)的变化范围分别为0.14~3.22和0.10~3.70,平均值分别为0.88和0.96,室内外相关系数(R2)分别为0.32和0.46.Al、Ca、Fe等元素的浓度均高于1μg/m3,V、Mn、Cu等元素浓度变化范围为0.01~1μg/m3;非采暖季和采暖季元素I/O比值的变化范围分别为0.62~1.04和0.41~0.92.以采暖季为例,使用PM10质量(元素)浓度的质量平衡模型计算的有效穿透因子(Finf)、贡献值、贡献率分别为0.26(0.39)、50.84μg/m3(78.69μg/m3)、43.97%(50.05%),两种结果存在差异的原因是2种模型对Finf的假设不同.     

Invasion, Disturbance, and Competition: Modeling the Fate of Coastal Plant Populations

Abstract:  Wetland habitats are besieged by biotic and abiotic disturbances such as invasive species, hurricanes, habitat fragmentation, and salinization. Predicting how these factors will alter local population dynamics and community structure is a monumental challenge. By examining ecologically similar congeners, such as Iris hexagona and I. pseudacorus (which reproduce clonally and sexually and tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions), one can identify life-history traits that are most influential to population growth and viability. We combined empirical data and stage-structured matrix models to investigate the demographic responses of native ( I. hexagona ) and invasive ( I. pseudacorus ) plant populations to hurricanes and salinity stress in freshwater and brackish wetlands. In our models I. hexagona and I. pseudacorus responded differently to salinity stress, and species coexistence was rare. In 82% of computer simulations of freshwater marsh, invasive iris populations excluded the native species within 50 years, whereas native populations excluded the invasive species in 99% of the simulations in brackish marsh. The occurrence of hurricanes allowed the species to coexist, and species persistence was determined by the length of time it took the ecosystem to recover. Rapid recovery (2 years) favored the invasive species, whereas gradual recovery (30 years) favored the native species. Little is known about the effects of hurricanes on competitive interactions between native and invasive plant species in marsh ecosystems. Our models contribute new insight into the relationship between environmental disturbance and invasion and demonstrate how influential abiotic factors such as climate change will be in determining interspecific interactions.     

Urban afforestation and infant health: Evidence from MillionTreesNYC

This paper examines the impact of urban afforestation on infant health outcomes by exploiting a quasi-experimental setting where one million new trees were planted in New York City (NYC), but not in counties surrounding NYC over the same time period. Using a near-universal birth record of NYC and surrounding counties over 2004–2015 and employing both the synthetic control method and a difference-in-differences model, we find that an approximately 20% increase in urban forest cover decreased prematurity and low birth weight among mothers in NYC by 2.1 and 0.24 percentage points, respectively, relative to similar mothers outside of NYC. The low birth weight finding is equivalent to getting a mother smoking two cigarettes a day during pregnancy to quit. An internal validity test suggests that changes in the composition of NYC mothers cannot explain the observed effects. Additionally, we find evidence that declines in PM_2.5 concentrations and increases in outdoor walks are potential causal mechanisms. Results suggest that urban afforestation may be able to complement existing policies aimed at improving infant health.     

不同质量浓度黄莒蒲和狭叶香蒲对铜绿微囊藻的化感作用

分别采用黄菖蒲（IrispseudacorusL．）、狭叶香蒲（TyphaangustifoliaL．）和铜绿微囊藻（Microcystisaeruginosa）共生培养的实验方法研究了不同质量浓度黄菖蒲、狭叶香蒲对铜绿微囊藻的化感作用。结果表明，黄菖蒲在质量浓度大于10g／L时对初始密度为1．0×10^7ind／mL的铜绿微囊藻具有较好的抑制作用，表现为黄菖蒲质量浓度为10、20和40g／L时，第15天对铜绿微囊藻的抑制率分别为30．1％、51．8％和84．0％；狭叶香蒲在质量浓度大于20g／L时对铜绿微囊藻有明显的抑制作用，表现为狭叶香蒲质量浓度为20g／L和40g／L时，第15天对铜绿微囊藻的抑制率分别为34．2％和77．7％，实验过程中，铜绿微囊藻叶绿素a含量逐渐减少，而藻密度、SOD活性及MDA含量先增加后逐渐降低，表明经过一段时间持续地化感胁迫，黄菖蒲和狭叶香蒲可以诱导铜绿微囊藻产生氧化胁迫，导致细胞结构严重损伤和叶绿素大量分解，从而强烈抑制铜绿微囊藻的生长。     

Performance analysis of bioethanol (Water Hyacinth) on diesel engine

The increasing consumption and excessive extraction of conventional fuels is the matter of serious concern. Nowadays, world is looking for alternative sources of fuel which can partially replace conventional fuel dependence. The current investigation intends to provide evaluation of bio-ethanol preparation from Water Hyacinth (WH) and its influence on diesel engine performance under various operating conditions. This study explores the extraction of glucose from WH (Eichhornia crassipes) pretreated with sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) for production of bio-ethanol. For the production of bio-ethanol different concentrations of H₂SO₄ acid hydrolysate (1%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10%) were prepared which was then followed by fermentation with cellulose fermenting yeasts. From results, it was observed that 4% H₂SO₄ acid hydrolysis produces higher concentrations of ethanol than other concentrations. Bio-ethanol extracted from WH was blended with diesel in different proportions (5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25%) v/v and performance and emissions were experimentally investigated on single cylinder diesel engine under various load conditions. Experimental results show that 5 BED [5% bio-ethanol (WH + 95%diesel v/v) and 10BED (10% bio-ethanol (WH + 90%diesel v/v)] produces higher brake power, brake thermal efficiency and brake mean effective pressure with improved exhaust emission profiles than any other blend.     

陕西省生态环境景观格局脆弱性及空间关联研究

基于地理信息系统GIS和景观格局指数分析Fragstats,研究陕西省生态环境景观格局脆弱性及空间关联,结果显示:2001年、2006年和2011年,陕西省景观格局脆弱度分别为0~7.406 6、0~7.970 5和0~8.034 8,呈下降的趋势,高脆弱区面积逐渐减小,低脆弱区和较低脆弱区面积逐渐增大.2001年、2006年和2011年的全局Moran`s I 指数分别是0.792 8、0.692 1和0.679 9,呈不断减少的趋势,景观格局脆弱度存在较强的正相关现象.局部空间自相关表明,2001年"高-高"值的区域主要分布在陕西中部和南部,2006年"高-高"值的区域分布在除中南部以外的区域,2011年"高-高"值的区域分布在除中西部以外的区域.     

危险废物暂存库渗漏风险规避措施与实践

为了减少危险废物暂存库的环境风险,在项目实施中增设渗漏检测系统,通过对暂存库防渗膜进行长期的实时检测,规避了因暂存库渗漏造成的环境风险,使单层混凝土结构的暂存库实现了双层混凝土结构的遮断型填埋场才具有的渗漏检测和修补功能.渗漏检测的信息通过GSM网络进入Intemet进行数据交换,将检测信息传递到环境管理部门,提高了监督管理的水平.渗漏检测以2个检测电极间充满渗出液时电阻发生突变的特点作为HDPE膜渗漏的判据,结合渗出液的化学成分来判断渗漏的种类,利用TC35I无线模块通过GSM网进入Internet进行数据交换,实现了危险废物暂存库渗漏的网络化监测.利用HDPE膜的绝缘性提出了用偶极子检测HDPE膜漏洞的定位方法,为修补漏洞创造条件.并指出检测电压随漏洞大小、偶极子间距、贮存库液体的电阻率、供电电压的增加而增高,随偶极子距HDPE膜的距离、偶极子移动方向到漏洞的距离、暂存库液体的深度的增加而减小.     

在用车推行I/M制度的检测方法的成本效益分析

从检测性能和成本效益两方面对几种检测方法进行分析比较，并结合国内外I/M制度的实施情况和上海市的特点，建议上海市实施I/M制度时，初期对轻型汽油车采用VMAS，后期采用IM240进行检测；对轻型柴油车可采用瞬态简易工况法和Lugdown系统。