Molecular docking analysis on antifungal properties of acid condensate produced from palm kernel shell

The rise in the number of fungi that resisted antifungal action is of serious concern nowadays. In this study, the potential of acid condensate (AC) produced from microwave-assisted pyrolysis of palm kernel shell (PKS) was investigated for its antifungal properties through molecular docking evaluation. The phenolic-rich AC was determined for its chemical compositions using the GC–MS analysis where compounds with the highest phenolics content were further evaluated (using the Autodock Tools 1.5.7) for its potential enzymes/protein binding properties. From the GC–MS analysis, catechol, guaiacol and syringol were present at highest percentages. This directly correlates with results obtained from the molecular docking works where all these ligands managed to bind (indicated by H-bond, π-stacking, hydrophobic interaction) with some of the amino acid at the active sites which indicate its potential to inhibit substrate binding of this enzyme. As a conclusion, this study demonstrated the potential use of AC from agricultural biomass such as PKS as a natural-based antifungal agent that can reduce environmental and health impacts.     

Systematic review of conservation interventions to promote voluntary behavior change

Understanding human behavior is vital to developing interventions that effectively lead to proenvironmental behavior change, whether the focus is at the individual or societal level. However, interventions in many fields have historically lacked robust forms of evaluation, which makes it hard to be confident that these conservation interventions have successfully helped protect the environment. We conducted a systematic review to assess how effective nonpecuniary and nonregulatory interventions have been in changing environmental behavior. We applied the Office of Health Assessment and Translation systematic review methodology. We started with more than 300,000 papers and reports returned by our search terms and after critical appraisal of quality identified 128 individual studies that merited inclusion in the review. We classified interventions by thematic area, type of intervention, the number of times audiences were exposed to interventions, and the length of time interventions ran. Most studies reported a positive effect (n = 96). The next most common outcome was no effect (n = 28). Few studies reported negative (n = 1) or mixed (n = 3) effects. Education, prompts, and feedback interventions resulted in positive behavior change. Combining multiple interventions was the most effective. Neither exposure duration nor frequency affected the likelihood of desired behavioral change. Comparatively few studies tested the effects of voluntary interventions on non-Western populations (n = 17) or measured actual ecological outcome behavior (n = 1). Similarly, few studies examined conservation devices (e.g., energy-efficient stoves) (n = 9) and demonstrations (e.g., modeling the desired behavior) (n = 5). There is a clear need to both improve the quality of the impact evaluation conducted and the reporting standards for intervention results.     

Biofiltration and disinfection codetermine the bacterial antibiotic resistome in drinking water: A review and meta-analysis

• Published data was used to analyze the fate of ARGs in water treatment. • Biomass removal leads to the reduction in absolute abundance of ARGs. • Mechanism that filter biofilm maintain ARB/ARGs was summarized. • Potential BAR risks caused by biofiltration and chlorination were proposed. The bacterial antibiotic resistome (BAR) is one of the most serious contemporary medical challenges. The BAR problem in drinking water is receiving growing attention. In this study, we focused on the distribution, changes, and health risks of the BAR throughout the drinking water treatment system. We extracted the antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) data from recent publications and analyzed ARG profiles based on diversity, absolute abundance, and relative abundance. The absolute abundance of ARG was found to decrease with water treatment processes and was positively correlated with the abundance of 16S rRNA (r² = 0.963, p<0.001), indicating that the reduction of ARG concentration was accompanied by decreasing biomass. Among treatment processes, biofiltration and chlorination were discovered to play important roles in shaping the bacterial antibiotic resistome. Chlorination exhibited positive effects in controlling the diversity of ARG, while biofiltration, especially granular activated carbon filtration, increased the diversity of ARG. Both biofiltration and chlorination altered the structure of the resistome by affecting relative ARG abundance. In addition, we analyzed the mechanism behind the impact of biofiltration and chlorination on the bacterial antibiotic resistome. By intercepting influent ARG-carrying bacteria, biofilters can enrich various ARGs and maintain ARGs in biofilm. Chlorination further selects bacteria co-resistant to chlorine and antibiotics. Finally, we proposed the BAR health risks caused by biofiltration and chlorination in water treatment. To reduce potential BAR risk in drinking water, membrane filtration technology and water boiling are recommended at the point of use.     

考虑预测不确定性的微网优化调度

针对现有技术下由于微网中不可控微源出力预测和负荷预测均存在误差较大而引起微网优化调度结果不准确的问题,提出在传统微网经济调度模型中增加不确定性描述模型,得到不同侧重点下的微网经济优化结果,并对结果进行分析。首先,通过利用区间数描述预测不确定性,并结合隶属度函数推导容忍度概念。其次,在并网运行模式的微网结构上建立以运行成本最低为目标函数的微网优化调度模型,并将该模型转换为区间数形式表示。最后,利用粒子群优化算法并以MATLAB为主要工具对上述模型进行求解,得到微网24 h出力优化区间解结果,并对结果进行详细分析。算例通过对某并网型微网进行分析,验证了所提模型的科学性和有效性。     

佳乐麝香对萝卜种子发芽及DNA损伤的生态毒理影响

由于佳乐麝香(HHCB)被广泛应用于日用化工产品中,被持续不断地释放到环境中,所产生的生态风险已引起越来越多的重视。为探究HHCB的生态毒性效应,在水培条件下考察了不同浓度HHCB对萝卜的表观生长指标(发芽率、根伸长抑制率、芽伸长抑制率)和基于随机引物扩增多态性(RAPD)图谱的根尖DNA损伤状况。研究结果显示:低剂量(≤25 mg·L~(-1))胁迫对萝卜发芽无显著影响(P0.05);高剂量(≥50 mg·L~(-1))胁迫可以显著抑制萝卜发芽率(P0.05)。萝卜的根长和芽长抑制率随HHCB浓度增加而呈上升趋势,且根伸长对HHCB胁迫较芽伸长更敏感,更适宜指示HHCB对植物的生态毒性效应。萝卜根尖基因组DNA的RAPD分析结果表明:大于或等于5 mg·L~(-1)的HHCB即可明显导致萝卜根尖基因组DNA损伤,且随着HHCB浓度的升高,根尖基因组DNA含量呈线性降低,DNA多态率增加,基因组模板稳定性(GTS)减小,遗传相似性变远。这表明较低剂量的HHCB胁迫就能够导致萝卜根尖基因组DNA损伤,且随浓度升高而损伤严重。因此,利用RAPD技术获得的萝卜DNA多态性变化可作为检测HHCB遗传毒性效应的敏感生物标记物,为化学品污染生态毒理早期诊断提供科学依据。     

滨海滩涂不同围垦年代垦区农作物重金属累积特征及其与氮、磷的关系

为探明滨海滩涂围垦区农作物重金属累积特征及其与围垦年代、作物氮磷含量及化学计量比的关系,采集盐城地区不同围垦年代(围垦20、30、40、60年)农田4种主要作物(大麦、小麦、油菜、蚕豆)样品63个,测定了其根、茎叶和籽粒中Cd、Cu、Zn、Pb、Hg、As及全氮(N)、全磷(P)和粗蛋白(CP)含量,分析了重金属累积特征及与围垦年代、N、P、CP及N/P比的关系,并采用单因子污染指数法和内梅罗综合污染指数法对重金属污染程度和安全水平进行了评价。结果表明,1)围垦农田作物整株各指标含量分别为Cd (0.52±0.94)、Cu (12.98±16.00)、Zn (34.93±27.91)、Pb (3.50±5.88)、Hg (0.0063±0.0063)、As (1.94±3.72) mg·kg~(-1)及N(13.69±8.27)、P (5.98±2.24)、CP (79.55±49.54) g·kg~(-1);籽粒中则分别为(0.0059±0.020)、(1.83±1.48)、(11.13±4.45)、(0.09±0.30)、(0.0023±0.0036)、(0.0021±0.0048) mg·kg~(-1)及(19.21±7.68)、(6.04±1.64)、(111.78±47.81) g·kg~(-1); 2)作物重金属均表现为根茎叶籽粒,N和CP与之相反,表现为根茎叶籽粒,而P则表现为根籽粒茎叶; 3)不同围垦年代之间作物重金属、N、P、CP含量、N/P比及综合污染指数(Pz)均没有显著差异(P0.05); 4)各作物籽粒6种重金属单因子污染指数均值均小于1,除个别样品Pb超标(超标率11%)外,其他重金属均未超标; 5)作物籽粒重金属Pz均值为0.38,表明该地区作物重金属总体处于安全级,但大麦、小麦、油菜籽粒均有样品Pb含量超过警戒线,个别样品甚至达到重度污染水平; 6)作物整株各重金属之间、重金属与P之间均存在显著正相关(P0.01),而重金属与N、CP、N/P存在显著负相关(P0.01),在籽粒中则相关性均不显著(P0.05)。以上结果显示,盐城滨海滩涂围垦区作物重金属累积与围垦时间关系不大,其含量目前尚处于可接受范围内,但Pb污染值得关注,作物重金属与P之间存在一定的相互促进作用,而与N存在一定的拮抗作用,高氮低磷的机体养分状况有助于降低重金属含量。     

Effect of ventilation rate on air cleanliness and energy consumption in operation rooms at rest

The interrelationships between ventilation rate, indoor air quality, and energy consumption in operation rooms at rest are yet to be understood. We investigate the effect of ventilation rate on indoor air quality indices and energy consumption in ORs at rest. The study investigates the air temperature, relative humidity, concentrations of carbon dioxide, particulate matter (PM), and airborne bacteria at different ventilation rates in operation rooms at rest of a medical center. The energy consumption and cost analysis of the heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system in the operation rooms at rest were also evaluated for all ventilation rates. No air-conditioned operation rooms had very highest PM and airborne bacterial concentrations in the operation areas. The bacterial concentration in the operation areas with 6–30 air changes per hour (ACH) was below the suggested level set by the United Kingdom (UK) for an empty operation room. A 70% of reduction in annual energy cost by reducing the ventilation rate from 30 to 6 ACH was found in the operation rooms at rest. Maintenance of operation rooms at ventilation rate of 6 ACH could save considerable amounts of energy and achieve the goal of air cleanliness.     

新型溴代阻燃剂TBB和TBPH的生态毒理研究进展

新型溴代阻燃剂2-乙基己基-四溴苯甲酸(2-ethylhexyl-2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate,TBB)和2,3,4,5-四溴-苯二羧酸双(2-乙基己基)酯(bis(2-ethylhexyl)2,3,4,5-tetrabromophthalate,TBPH)作为传统溴代阻燃剂多溴联苯醚(poly brominated diphenyl ethers,PBDEs)的替代品,广泛应用于工业和人类日常生活用品中,已在各种环境介质和生物体甚至人体中被检测出,由此可能对生态环境和人类健康产生潜在的风险.本文对TBB和TBPH这2种新型溴代阻燃剂的最新生态毒理学研究进展进行了综述,介绍了 TBB和TBPH在各类环境介质和生物体中的分布、环境归趋、人群暴露状况以及有关的生物毒性效应.最后对TBB和TBPH研究存在的问题进行了梳理分析,提出了研究展望,以期促进TBB和TBPH的环境风险和人类健康风险评价的深入研究.     

排污权交易指标关联要素探讨

目前,排污权有偿使用和交易作为各地环保工作体制、机制创新的热点,是利用经济手段促进环境保护的有益尝试。本文从指标来源、指标使用期限、与污染减排的关系、技术支撑以及指标交易后续监管五个方面分析了排污权交易指标关联要素,得出交易指标与国家政策、污染减排以及环境监管密切相关的结论,从完善国家政策、强化与污染减排衔接和突出指标后续监管三个方面提出了相应的对策建议。     

Degradation of pyrene by immobilized microorganisms in saline-alkaline soil

Biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is very difficult in saline-alkaline soil due to the inhibition of microbial growth under saline-alkaline stress. The microorganisms that can most effectively degrade PAHs were screened by introducing microorganisms immobilized on farm byproducts and assessing the validity of the immobilizing technique for PAHs degradation in pyrene-contaminated saline-alkaline soil. Among the microorganisms examined, it was found that Mycobacterium sp. B2 is the best, and can degrade 82.2% and 83.2% of pyrene for free and immobilized cells after 30 days of incubation. The immobilization technique could increase the degradation of pyrene significantly, especially for fungi. The degradation of pyrene by the immobilized microorganisms Mucor sp. F2, fungal consortium MF and co-cultures of MB+MF was increased by 161.7% (P < 0.05), 60.1% (P < 0.05) and 59.6% (P < 0.05) after 30 days, respectively, when compared with free F2, MF and MB+MF. Scanning electron micrographs of the immobilized microstructure proved the positive effects of the immobilized microbial technique on pyrene remediation in saline-alkaline soil, as the interspace of the carrier material structure was relatively large, providing enough space for cell growth. Co-cultures of different bacterial and fungal species showed different abilities to degrade PAHs. The present study suggests that Mycobacterium sp. B2 can be employed for in situ bioremediation of PAHs in saline-alkaline soil, and immobilization of fungi on farm byproducts and nutrients as carriers will enhance fungus PAH-degradation ability in saline-alkaline soil.