Natural variability and correlations in the metabolic profile of healthy Eisenia fetida earthworms observed using ¹H NMR metabolomics

¹H NMR metabolomics can be used to assess the sub-lethal toxicity of contaminants to earthworms by identifying alterations in the metabolic profiles of contaminant- exposed earthworms in contrast to those of healthy (control) individuals. In support of this method this study sought to better characterize the baseline metabolic profile of healthy, mature earthworms of the species, Eisenia fetida, which is recommended for both acute and sub-lethal toxicity testing for soil contaminants. Profiles of D₂O-buffer extracted metabolites were determined using ¹H NMR spectroscopy and both inter-individual metabolic variability and pair-wise metabolic correlations were assessed. The control earthworm extracts exhibited low overall inter-individual metabolic variability, with a spectrum-wide median relative standard deviation (%RSD = standard deviation/mean × 100) of 14%, which suggests that the metabolic profile of E. fetida earthworms is well controlled in laboratory conditions and supports further use of this organism in environmental metabolomics research. In addition, strong positive correlations were detected between the levels of maltose, betaine, glycine, and glutamate as well as between the levels of lactate, valine, leucine, alanine, lysine, tyrosine, and phenylalanine which had not previously been reported. Since comparison of pair-wise metabolic correlations between control and treated organisms can reveal changes in the underlying pattern of biochemical relationships between the metabolites, identification of these significant metabolic correlations in control earthworms provides an additional characteristic that may be applied to delineate between control and treated earthworms in future NMR-based metabolomic studies.     

Nature of the field-to-field distribution of pesticide residues

The supervised trial datasets (1950), consisting of a minimum of five residue values and selected by the experts of FAO/WHO Joint Meeting on Pesticide Residues for recommending maximum residue levels between 1997 and 2011, were evaluated to obtain information on the typical spread of residue values in individual datasets. The typical relative standard deviation, CV, of field-to-field variation of pesticide residues was about 80%. The spread of residues in datasets is independent from the chemical structure of pesticides, residue level, pre-harvest interval and number of values in the datasets. The CV ranges within the Codex commodity groups and between groups overlapped and their difference were not statistically significant. The number of residues below the limit of quantification (LOQ) affects the CV at various extents depending on the ratio of LOQ/R _mean. The combined uncertainty of the highest residue in a dataset significantly affects the CV of the dataset. The lowest and intermediate ones have less influence. The residues in different fields receiving the same treatment vary within large range: 55%, 72%, 78%, 86% and 89% of the 25,766 residues values were, respectively, within 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 times the median value of the corresponding dataset.     

The Nutrient Status of Some Graminaceous Species in Britain. 1. Molinia Caerulea (L.) Moench

Above-ground biomass biomass of Molinia caerulea from 36 sites throughout Britain was analysed for concentrations of elements (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn and Na), with matching analyses of soil nutrients, together with pH and LOI. Between-year and seasonal variation in the nutrients was also studied at one of the sites. the grass was found on acid sites ranging between pH 3.1 and 5.8. the soil humus content varied widely, and there were significant correlations between that and elements (N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Na) in the soil. Concentrations of calcium, magnesium, zinc and manganese in the plant material were significantly correlated with extractable levels in the soils. Between year variation in the plant nutrient concentrations at one site was of a similar order to variation between the sites. Generally there was less variation in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium tissue levels than in calcium, magnesium, zinc and copper. Iron and sodium were the most variable. Tissue concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and copper declined throughout the growing season, whereas magnesium, calcium and iron built up until August/September after which a decline set in as the leaves senesced. the results are discussed in relation to the importance of standardizing the time of sampling, in comparison with concentrations of tissue levels in other plants and the growth strategy of this deciduous grass.     

基于GIS的珠三角区域空气质量时空特征研究

以广东省环境信息GIS综合发布平台发布的2005年至2010年间粤港珠三角区域空气质量日报中空气质量等级数据为基础,利用GIS技术,首次采用网格化分析、均值分析、标准差分析、专题图渲染等分析方法,针对空间网格的空气质量年度均值、标准差等指标,对近5年来珠三角区域空气质量在横向上从珠三角空间区域范围,纵向上5年时间尺度内时空特征进行深入的研究,解决了在大地理区域、5年时间尺度空气质量分等定级过程中的区域边界划分问题。结果表明：珠三角的RAQI区域均值从2006年的2.3下降到2010年的2.02,空气质量整体上逐年改善;区域污染高值中心由东莞西部逐步向佛山中部转移;珠三角的肇庆南部、佛山中部、中山北部以及广州的南沙等区域空气质量变化幅度较大;惠州、深圳、香港等地区的空气质量较好,也较为稳定。     

武汉城市圈产业经济的系统性分析

摘 要： 构建产业经济的系统性评价指标体系，通过偏离份额方程、产业动态度和偏离度指标对产业结构性和产业演进性这两个维度进行核算，定量揭示武汉城市圈的产业经济发育特征：近20年来，武汉城市圈整体产业结构波动明显，不同城市不同产业在各时段的效益差异明显，呈现一定的圈层结构分异，中心城市武汉增长速度最快，圈域经济发展处于一定的“一极集聚”态势，武汉—鄂州—黄石—孝感城市群产业升级明显，经济发展较快，其余5个城市发展较慢，导致城际产业链群发育不完全，区间产业经济联系较弱；产业结构演进总体上呈现倒“U”型曲线变化规律，中心城市产业结构变动程度差异明显，明显形成3种产业结构演进类型：低偏离度—高结构效益型、中偏离度—中结构效益型、高偏离度—高结构效益型；核心城市武汉的产业结构不断向成熟方向演进，但其它中心城市产业结构仍有待进一步升级优化.     

基于O3/UV法的消解终止自动确定方法

为了提高基于臭氧协同紫外（O₃/UV）法的COD在线监测装置的检测效率和检测精度,分析了不同水样在消解过程中二氧化碳气体生成浓度的变化率与有机物消解率之间的关系,提出了一种消解终止自动确定的检测方法.通过采集消解过程中各传感器的数据,基于使用滑动标准偏差法计算二氧化碳气体浓度变化率的标准差自动确定消解终止时间.对不同种类、不同浓度的有机物进行消解实验,发现在二氧化碳实时浓度的标准差小于0.003时,有机物基本消解完全,可认为达到反应终点.该方法不仅可用于COD的在线监测提高检测效率和检测精度,也对基于臭氧协同紫外（O₃/UV）法的废水处理具有指导意义.     

In vivo and in vitro metabolism of tobacco-specific nitrosamine, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), by the freshwater planarian, Dugesia japonica

Cigarette smoke is a risk factor for human health, and many studies were conducted to investigate its adverse effects on humans and other mammals. However, since large amounts of cigarette products are produced and consumed, it is possible that tobacco chemicals can end up in aquatic environments through several routes, thus influencing aquatic organisms. In this study, the presence of tobacco-specific nitrosamine (TSNA), 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), in aquatic environment was demonstrated. Since toxic effects on and distribution patterns of tobacco chemicals in aquatic organisms were rarely studied, after results of an acute toxicity pretest were obtained, experiment was conducted to investigate the bioaccumulation pattern of NNK and distribution patterns of its metabolites, mainly 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL), in NNK-treated freshwater planarians, Dugesia japonica. Results from in vivo and in vitro studies showed that NNK was readily converted to NNAL through the carbonyl reduction in bodies of NNK-treated planarians. Tissue concentrations of both chemicals increased in time- and dose-dependent manners. Furthermore, we examined the end products of NNK/NNAL α-hydroxylation in NNK-treated planarians, but only 1-(3-pyridyl)-1,4-butanediol was detected, suggesting that NNK metabolism in planarians partially differs from that in mammalian systems. This is the first report on NNK metabolism in an aquatic organism and can be used as a foundation for developing freshwater planarians as a new in vivo model for the study of NNK toxicology in the future.     

基于环境参数监测评估的丙烯腈装置安全预警技术研究

以丙烯腈生产装置为研究对象,调查分析其存在的主要危险因素以及工艺特性,依据偏差分析原理建立了丙烯腈装置的异常处置原则与标准,设计了具有环境质量浓度监测评估和过程参数偏差预警分析的双重监控预警平台。该平台通过建立的OPC通讯技术,实时获得现场环境质量浓度及关键参数的信息,进行泄漏扩散事故的早期预警和早期干预处置,并通过对监测数据的综合动态分析预测危险气体环境质量浓度的变化趋势以及可能对周边带来的危害。     

浅析归因引起的安全感偏差

安全与安全感是两个不同的概念,安全是客观存在的状态,安全感是行为主体认为所处的状态是安全的.安全感在工作与日常生活中对个体行为的安全性发挥着重要作用,而个体的归因行为对安全感的判断产生巨大影响.应用归因理论,通过分析生产与日常生活中的典型案例,说明归因行为引起的安全感判断偏差所带来的危害,以从一个新的角度引起人们的重视;最后根据分析结果针对性地提出建议措施.总之,在从事行为活动时,人们必须增强安全意识,通过正确归因获得有益的安全感,以避免或减轻由于归因引起的安全感偏差而带来的危害.     

起重机运行自动纠偏及治理啃道系统开发

起重机大车运行啃道是一个普遍现象，它给企业造成相当大的经济损失。提出用位移传感器测量出起重机车架相对于轨道的偏斜，用此伯斜量作为控制信号，通过变频器调整两边驱动电动机的转速，从而自动地修正车架的伯斜，并加强车架的水平刚性，使啃道现象得以基本消除。作者将此设想已用于起重机模型的实际运行中，取得了良好的效果。