Exoautometabolic regulation of transgenes in microorganisms

Data on the existence of a specific system regulating the growth, size, and structure of enterobacterial populations are first summarized in terms of the chemical ecology concept formulated by S.S. Shvarts. The role of this system in transgene functioning is described using the example of the lux operon integrated into Escherichia coli. A relatively simple test for estimating such interactions is proposed.Translated from Ekologiya, No. 2, 2005, pp. 91–96.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Pshenichnov, Maslennikova, Nikitina.     

电-生物耦合技术对偶氮染料的去除研究

酸性大红GR是一种较难生物降解的偶氮染料，采用一种电场和生物耦合的新型技术处理酸性大红GR模拟废水，并与单纯电化学法和好氧生物法进行试验对照。结果表明：反应6 h后，电化学法、好氧生物法、电-生物耦合技术对酸性大红GR的去除率分别达到15.7%、25.8%和71.2%，电-生物耦合技术能明显提高酸性大红GR的去除效果，起到强化生物处理的作用。在15 mA微电流条件下电-生物技术能克服50 mg/L酸性大红GR对好氧生物处理的抑制作用，为高浓度难降解染料废水的生物强化处理提供了可能。     

Hormesis and plant biology

A database has been developed that demonstrates experimental evidence of hormesis. It includes information from a broad range of biological models, including plants, and information on study design, dose-response features, and physical/chemical properties of the agents. An assessment of plant hormetic dose responses is presented based on greater than 3000 plant endpoints. Plant hormetic dose responses were observed for numerous endpoints including disease incidence, reproductive indices, mutagenic endpoints, various metabolic parameters, developmental processes, and a range of growth indicators. Quantitative features of these dose responses typically display a maximum stimulatory response less than two-fold greater than controls and a width of the stimulatory response usually less than 10-fold in dose range. The database establishes that hormetic dose responses commonly occur in plants, are broadly generalizable, and have quantitative features similar to hormetic dose responses found for animals.     

在电子废弃物管理中生产者责任延伸制度探讨

随着2003年我国家电、通讯和电脑等电子产品的报废高峰期和宽带电讯业发展的黄金时代的到来，电子废弃物的污染问题日益引起人们的关注。我国传统废弃物的处理和管理制度的不完善。已使我国沿海地区的电子垃圾泛滥成灾，甚至威胁到内陆地区。而且电子废弃物中大量的有用资源没有得到有效回收。也不符合政府最近提倡的全民节约原则。因此，国家制定了有关电子废弃物的生产者责任延伸（EPR）制的具体法律法规。本文从环境经济学角度。结合其它国家和地区的生产者责任延伸制的颁布和运行情况。对我国电子废弃物的管理中施行生产责任延伸制进行初步探讨。     

Hormetic effect of glyphosate on Urochloa decumbens plants

Abstract

Urochloa decumbens plants may be reached by herbicide drift from applications of glyphosate from neighboring areas or by variations during applications. Considering the different phenological stages and size of plants in these areas, the amount of active ingredient that reaches the plants probably varies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the application of different doses of glyphosate on U. decumbens plants. Two greenhouse experiments were conducted with two replications at different times. The first experiment evaluated the biological response of U. decumbens plants to glyphosate doses (0, 2.81, 5.63, 11.25, 22.5, 45, 90, 180, 360, 720, and 1,440?g a.e. ha^?1), with six replications. The second experiment evaluated the response of U. decumbens plants to the application of a selected low dose of 11.25?g a.e. ha^?1. Evaluations of injury were performed at 0, 7, 14, and 21?days after application, and dry weight of plants was determined for each evaluation period. U. decumbens plants increased in dry weight when using the glyphosate dose of 11.25?g a.e. ha^?1. However, plants had different responses to the application of this low dose. It can promote both stimulation and inhibition of plant growth.     

直流电场强化活性污泥法处理木质素废水的效能、污泥特性及群落结构研究

以溶解态木质素模拟废水为研究对象,考察了不同直流电场条件下活性污泥反应器(R1,无电流,悬浮污泥)、电极生物膜反应器(R2,电流I=10~60 mA,无悬浮污泥)与电极生物膜-活性污泥反应器(R3,I=10~60 mA,悬浮污泥)中木质素废水的处理效能、污泥生理特性(活菌比、木质素过氧化物酶(LiP)、三磷酸腺苷(ATP)等)、细胞膜磷脂脂肪酸组成及微生物群落结构的差异.结果表明:相同的外加电流下,R3的木质素去除率均高于R2(p0.05),其中,30 mA时达到最大值30.19%±0.47%,分别为R1、R2木质素去除率的2.01倍和1.46倍.反应器R2在20~40 mA时的总氮去除效果最好,达到71.96%±5.79%.分析R1、R3悬浮污泥发现,外加电流升高不改变悬浮污泥的活菌比(p0.05),木质素去除率受LiP酶活影响不大;与低电流(10~30 mA)相比,高电流(40~60 mA)下悬浮污泥中C15∶0 ANTEISO的含量降低,长链磷脂脂肪酸(C19、C20)的相对含量增加;R3悬浮污泥中Flavobacterium、Pseudomonas和Janthinobacterium等可降解木质素的菌属在10 mA外加电流的刺激下相对丰度均最高.在电极微生物方面,与R3相比,R2阴极微生物中具有反硝化能力的Methyloversatilis成为优势菌属,阳极微生物中存在更多具有电子传递能力的菌属(Pseudomonas、Ralstonia).冗余分析(RDA)表明,悬浮污泥中Mycobacterium(降解木质素的好氧细菌)丰度与电流(I)显著正相关(p0.05),与不饱和脂肪酸(UFA)显著负相关(p0.05).     

APPLICATION OF THE CONTINUOUS STORMWATER POLLUTION SIMULATION SYSTEM (CSPSS): PHILADELLPHIA CASE STUDY1

ABSTRACT: This paper describes the Continuous Stormwater Pollution Simulation System (CSPSS) as well as a site-specific application of CSPSS to the Philadelphia urban area and its receiving water, the Delaware Estuary. Conceptually, CSPSS simulates the quantity and quality or urban stormwater runoff, combined sewer overflow, municipal and industrial waste water effuent, and upstream flow on a continuous basis for each time step in the simulation period. In addition, receiving water dissolved oxygen, suspended solids, and lead concentrations resulting from these pollutant sources may be simulated. However, only rceiving water dissolved oxygen (DO) response is considered in this paper. The continuous Do receiving water response model was calibrated to existing conditions usinv observed data at Chester, Pennsylvnia, located on the Delaware Estuary approximately 10 miles down stream from the study area. Average annual pollutant loads to the receiving water were estimated for all major sources and receiving water quality improvements resulting from removal of various portions of these pollutant loads were estimated by application of the calibrated stimultion model. It was found that the removal of oxygen-demanding pollutants from combined sewer overflow and urban stormwater runoff would result in relatively minor improvements in the overall dissoved oxygen resources of the Delaware Estuary; whereas. removal of oxygen demanding pollutants from waste water treatment plant effluent would result in greater improvemens. The results of this investigation can be used along with appropriate economic techniques to identify the most cost-effective mix of point and nonpoint source pollution control measures.     

Immune stimulation in fish and chicken through weak low frequency electromagnetic fields

A hypothesis is proposed how Low Frequency Electromagnetic Field (LF EMF) exposure can stimulate an immune response, based on recent insights in immunology. We hypothesize that the Immunent EMF treatment induces mild stress to cells, which then produce cytokines that function as alarms or so called danger signals for the immune system. In this way EMF treatment takes the place of multiplying pathogens, and the damage these cause, in the triggering of an immune response. In a first series of experiments in␣vitro common carp head kidney-derived phagocytes were used to determine ROS production as a measure for immune activation. Exposure to LF EMF signals (200–5,000 Hz) at 5 μT or 1.5 mT led to 42 or 33% increase in immune activity, respectively, compared to negative control values. EMF could also additionally stimulate chemically pre-stimulated samples up to 18% (5 μT) or 22% (1.5 mT). Significance of increase in ROS production in the total series was: p < 0.0001. In a second series of experiments in␣vitro commercial goldfish were used. Groups of fish were housed under equal conditions in at least four control tanks and 8–16 EMF-exposed tanks. Exposure was done with a predominantly vertical field at field strengths (rms) between 0.15 and 50 μT. Without treatment mortality was about 50% after 18 days, while the treatment at 5 μT reduced it to 20% on average. At field strengths 0.15, 0.5, 1.5, 5, 15 and 50 μT an equally strong effect was found. Reducing the field strength to 0.05, 0.06, 0.01 and 0.003 μT showed a gradually decreasing effect, which only at 0.003 μT is no longer statistically significant. Finally, in␣vitro experiments were done with 560 commercial broiler chickens exposed to infection pressure from coccidiosis. EMF exposure at 6.5 μT reduced intestinal lesions by 40% and improved feed conversion by 8%.     

The impact of different voltage application modes on biodegradation of chloramphenicol and shift of microbial community structure

● Presented coupled system enhanced biodegradation of antibiotic chloramphenicol. ● HRT and electrical stimulation modes were key influencing factors. ● Electrical stimulation had little effect on the chloramphenicol metabolic pathway. ● Microbial community structure varied with the voltage application mode. Exoelectrogenic biofilms have received considerable attention for their ability to enhance electron transfer between contaminants and electrodes in bioelectrochemical systems. In this study, we constructed anaerobic-aerobic-coupled upflow bioelectrochemical reactors (AO-UBERs) with different voltage application modes, voltages and hydraulic retention times (HRTs). In addition, we evaluated their capacity to remove chloramphenicol (CAP). AO-UBER can effectively mineralize CAP and its metabolites through electrical stimulation when an appropriate voltage is applied. The CAP removal efficiencies were ~81.1%±6.1% (intermittent voltage application mode) and 75.2%±4.6% (continuous voltage application mode) under 0.5 V supply voltage, which were ~21.5% and 15.6% greater than those in the control system without voltage applied, respectively. The removal efficiency is mainly attributed to the anaerobic chamber. High-throughput sequencing combined with catabolic pathway analysis indicated that electrical stimulation selectively enriched Megasphaera, Janthinobacterium, Pseudomonas, Emticicia, Zoogloea, Cloacibacterium and Cetobacterium, which are capable of denitrification, dechlorination and benzene ring cleavage, respectively. This study shows that under the intermittent voltage application mode, AO-UBERs are highly promising for treating antibiotic-contaminated wastewater.     

环境浓度水平的镍对不同生命阶段秀丽线虫(Cae-norhabditis elegans)体长与运动的刺激效应

毒物兴奋效应(hormesis)受到广泛关注。本文以秀丽线虫(Caenorhabditis elegans)的L1(自虫卵开始培养10 h)、L3阶段(36 h)和年轻成虫阶段(72 h)为起始暴露阶段,进行环境浓度(3.18E-3、3.18E-2、3.18E-1和3.18μmol·L-1)水平的72 h镍暴露试验,以体长与行为学指标为终点研究了不同生命阶段对毒物兴奋效应的影响。在所有暴露浓度下,镍对L1线虫的体长均表现出显著的刺激效应,3个较高浓度下(3.18E-2、3.18E-1和3.18μmol·L-1)的刺激效应相似,均表现为比空白多23.6%(P0.05)的水平;L3线虫的体长在低浓度受到刺激,在高浓度受到抑制,表现为毒物兴奋效应;年轻成虫在所设4个浓度下均没有显著响应。在所有暴露浓度下,镍对L1线虫的身体弯曲运动无显著效应;镍对L3线虫的身体弯曲频率表现为刺激效应,并且该刺激效应随暴露浓度增加,先增加后减小,在3.18E-2μmol·L-1表现出最大刺激效应,比空白多59.0%(P0.05);镍对年轻成虫的身体弯曲频率表现为比空白多17.7%~30.1%(P0.05)的刺激效应,该刺激效应在不同浓度下不具有显著性差异。镍对L1线虫的倒退运动表现出显著的、随暴露浓度增加而增加的刺激效应,在3.18μmol·L-1表现出最大刺激效应,比空白多187.0%(P0.05);镍对L3线虫的倒退运动在3.18μmol·L-1下表现为比空白多22.7%(P0.05)的刺激效应;镍对年轻成虫的倒退运动在较高的3个浓度下(3.18E-2、3.18E-1和3.18μmol·L-1)表现为比空白多46.7%~86.7%(P0.05)的刺激效应。研究揭示环境浓度水平的镍暴露对不同生命阶段秀丽线虫的体长与运动具有不同程度的刺激效应。