Conservation implications of physiological carry‐over effects in bats recovering from white‐nose syndrome

Although it is well documented that infectious diseases can pose threats to biodiversity, the potential long‐term consequences of pathogen exposure on individual fitness and its effects on population viability have rarely been studied. We tested the hypothesis that pathogen exposure causes physiological carry‐over effects with a pathogen that is uniquely suited to this question because the infection period is specific and time limited. The fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans causes white‐nose syndrome (WNS) in hibernating bats, which either die due to the infection while hibernating or recover following emergence from hibernation. The fungus infects all exposed individuals in an overwintering site simultaneously, and bats that survive infection during hibernation clear the pathogen within a few weeks following emergence. We quantified chronic stress during the active season, when bats are not infected, by measuring cortisol in bat claws. Free‐ranging Myotis lucifugus who survived previous exposure to P. destructans had significantly higher levels of claw cortisol than naïve individuals. Thus, cryptic physiological carry‐over effects of pathogen exposure may persist in asymptomatic, recovered individuals. If these effects result in reduced survival or reproductive success, they could also affect population viability and even act as a third stream in the extinction vortex. For example, significant increases in chronic stress, such as those indicated here, are correlated with reduced reproductive success in a number of species. Future research should directly explore the link between pathogen exposure and the viability of apparently recovered populations to improve understanding of the true impacts of infectious diseases on threatened populations.     

Water saving effect on integrated water resource management

This study proposes an improved integrated water resource management (IWRM), in which water conservation was analyzed for the entire water use process. A multi-objective optimization method was applied to optimize the IWRM, which investigated the reduction of freshwater consumption and the total water supply cost. Customer's preference for saving water and an end use analysis (EUA) was applied in the water conservation analysis. Taking Tianjin as the study area, a reduction in customer's economic pressure (EP) was utilized to evaluate the degree of the customer's preference for saving water. The results revealed that agriculture had a greater preference for saving water than other sectors, where as the public had the weakest motivation for saving water. Improving the transportation method could contribute 62.1% of the total water savings in the agriculture sector. The optimization of the IWRM demonstrated that the local freshwater savings would be 21.5%, and the total cost for water supplies would decrease by 13%. However, a government subsidy of 87.5 million Yuan would be needed. Additionally, by analyzing the change in the amount of water savings affected by water price, the appropriate water price increase range was suggested to be 1.5–1.7 times the original price.     

北京地区菜田土壤抗生素抗性基因的分布特征

为研究北京地区菜田土壤抗生素抗性基因(antibiotic resistance genes,ARGs)的污染状况和分布特征,采集了11个长期施用粪肥蔬菜基地的温室土壤和大田土壤,进行了抗生素以及ARGs种类和丰度的检测.结果表明,菜田土壤中四环素类抗生素残留量最高,其次为磺胺类抗生素,温室土壤抗生素残留普遍高于大田土壤.温室和大田土壤磺胺类抗性基因sul1、sul2和四环素类抗性基因tet L的检出率均为100%.温室土壤的Ⅰ类整合子(int I1)检出率比大田土壤高1.5倍.定量PCR的检测结果表明,菜田土壤中sul2和tet L的相对丰度介于10-4~10-2之间,温室土壤sul2和tet L的相对丰度普遍高于大田土壤.sul2的相对丰度与磺胺二甲嘧啶和强力霉素的含量显著正相关(P0.05),tet L相对丰度与抗生素含量无明显相关性(P0.05).本研究结果对于掌握北京地区农田土壤ARGs的污染现状,以及从ARGs角度评估农艺措施具有重要的指导意义.     

Removal of Cd2+ from water by Friedel’s salt (FS: 3CaO.Al2O3·CaCl2·10H2O): Sorption characteristics and mechanisms

The development of low-cost and efficient new mineral adsorbents has been a hot topic in recent years. In this study, Friedel’s salt (FS:3CaO·A12O3 ·CaCl2 ·10H2O), a hexagonal layered inorganic absorbent, was synthesized to remove Cd2+ from water. The adsorption process was simulated by Langmuir and Freundlich models. The adsorption mechanism was further analyzed with TEM, XRD, FT-IR analysis and monitoring of metal cations released and solution pH variation. The results indicated the adsorbent FS had an outstanding ability for Cd(Ⅱ) adsorption. The maximum adsorption capacity of the FS for Cd(Ⅱ) removal can reach up to 671.14 mg/g. The nearly equal numbers of Cd2+ adsorbed and Ca2+ released demonstrated that ion-exchange (both surface and inner) of the FS for Cd(Ⅱ) played an important role during the adsorption process. Furthermore, the surface of the FS after adsorption was microscopically disintegrated while the inner lamellar structure was almost unchanged. The behavior of Cd(Ⅱ) adsorption by FS was significantly affected by surface reactions. The mechanisms of Cd2+ adsorption by the FS mainly included surface complexation and surface precipitation. In the present study, the adsorption process was fitted better by the Langmuir isotherm model (R2 = 0.9999) than the Freundlich isotherm model (R2 = 0.8122). Finally, due to the high capacity for ion-exchange on the FS surface, FS is a promising layered inorganic adsorbent for the removal of Cd(Ⅱ) from water.     

水质氨氮自动分析仪分析方法研究

氨氮自动分析仪是根据纳氏试剂分光光度法的原理,通过自动进样,自动蒸馏,来实现快速准确的分析水质氨氮样品。近年来,氨氮自动分析仪广泛应用于环境监测领域,该方法能够快速、准确、方便地测定水质中的氨氮。利用标准方法纳氏试剂分光光度法进行实验室内的比对实验,通过实验分析,氨氮自动分析仪的分析曲线线性较好,相关系数达到0．9998,方法检出限、准确率和精密度能够满足当前环境监测标准的要求,实际样品测定结果理想,适合在环境监测领域推广应用。     

核电设备射频辐射抗扰度试验方法研究

参考美国核管制委员会(NRC)的行业规范RG 1.180,对比研究该规范中涵盖的两大标准体系,并以射频辐射抗扰度试验作为切入点,深入探讨了MIL-STD与IEC标准在干扰信号特性、试验布局、测试方法以及结果评价等关键技术上的差异。举例说明了具体测试中的技术细节以及试验结果的评估和使用方法。最终,形成试验实施的指导建议,为核电设备电磁兼容试验提供技术支持,并最终实现核电站的安全目标。     

加大对重点项目和民生项目建设的环境管理,充分发挥环评在产业结构调整、工业布局优化中的重要作用

加大对重点项目和民生项目建设的环境管理,充分发挥环评在产业结构调整、工业布局优化中的重要作用,是政府和环保部门当前必须认真对待的首要问题。     

检测管法与纳氏试剂光度法测定氨氮的比较研究

对氨氮真空玻璃检测管法和纳氏试剂光度法进行检出限、精密度、准确度,以及实际样品测试方面的比较研究。研究表明,氨氮检测管的检出限为0．2mg／L,精密度测定的相对标准偏差为0％～5．75％,准确度测定的加标回收率为93％～124％。检测管法和纳氏剂法同时测定多种实际样品,结果两种方法的相对误差为-37．8％～11．8％,结论：检测管法能够满足半定量测试的需求。     

基于改进道化学指数法的野战油库安全评估

野战油库的安全性对提高其战时生存与保障能力具有重要的作用。根据野战油库的特性,通过对道化学指数评价法进行适当改进,提出了一种新的安全评估方法,该方法通过计算野战油库战时的安全指数,从而划分出野战油库的安全等级及危险程度,对指导野战油库制定安全防护措施、提高其战时生存与保障能力具有重要的作用。