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。     

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.     

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.     

某涡轮风扇发动机试车台的声环境研究

涡轮风扇发动机试车台空气流量大,试车噪声呈宽带强噪声,其中突出的低频域噪声可远距离传播,易造成大范围的环境污染。为掌握某型涡轮风扇发动机在室内试车时的噪声特性,并检验试车台建筑物和各项降噪设备的效果,我们对新建试车台的声环境进行了测量。通过对该试车台内、外环境噪声数据的分析,表明新建试车台的声环境满足了我国有关规范的要求。本次研究工作对今后试车台的声学设计具有重要的借鉴意义。     

区域污染源排污总量分配方案初探

文章以实现区域可持续发展为目标,对区域污染物排污总量的分配进行了初步探索,通过分析对其有影响的各种因素,最终为特定区域发展规划的制定,可持续发展的实现,提供了一种较好的污染物排污总量分配方案。     

小水电资源区域开发环境影响回顾性评价案例分析——以海南省为例

在小水电资源区域开发规划环境影响报告书编制中应设置小水电资源区域开发环境影响回顾性评价专题,对规划区域小水电资源开发过程产生的环境问题进行调查和回顾性评价,从中发现小水电资源开发存在的环境问题,并提出规避的对策。海南省小水电资源开发规划环境影响报告书小水电资源区域开发环境影响回顾性评价专题案例。通过遥感影像判读及现场调查发现,选址不当、断流、减水、沙化、景观破坏、植被覆盖率降低及外来物种入侵、水土流失、用水矛盾、影响渔业资源等环境问题普遍存在,主要原因是环境行政管理虚位。主要对策有：在小水电资源开发规划及项目可行性研究报告中,应将环境法规符合性及环保投资列为重要内容;实施工程环境监理;加强竣工环保验收;将水电站下泄生态流量等环保措施执行情况的现场检查纳入常态工作范畴。