Ultraviolet irradiation induced oxidative stress and response of antioxidant system in an intertidal macroalgae Corallina officinalis L.

The response of the antioxidant defense system of an intertidal macroalgae Corallina officinalis L. to different dosages of UV-B irradiation was investigated. Results showed that superoxide dimutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POX) increased and then maintained at a relatively stable level when subjected to UV-B irradiation. Catalase (CAT) activity under medium dosage of UV-B irradiation (Muv) and high dosage of UV-B irradiation (Huv) treatments were significantly decreased. Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity first remained unaltered and then increased in Huv treatment. In addition, the assay on isozymes was carried out using non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). The activities of some SOD isoforms were altered by UV-B. Two new bands (POX V and POX Ⅶ) appeared upon exposure to all three UV-B dosages. CAT Ⅲ activity was increased by low dosage of UV-B irradiation (Luv),whereas CAT Ⅲ and CAT Ⅳ disappeared when the alga was exposed to Muv and Huv. Two bands of APX (APX Ⅵ and APX Ⅶ)were increased and a new band (APX X) was observed under Huv exposure. H2O2 and thiobarbituric acid reacting substance (TBARS)increased under Muv and Huv treatments. Overall, UV-B protection mechanisms are partly inducible and to a certain extent sufficient to prevent the accumulation of damage in C officinalis.     

Thioredoxins in bacteria: functions in oxidative stress response and regulation of thioredoxin genes

Thioredoxins fulfill a number of different important cellular functions in all living organisms. In bacteria, thioredoxin genes are often regulated by external factors. In turn, thioredoxins influence the expression of many other genes. The multiple and important functions of thioredoxins in cells necessitate to appropriately adjust their level. This review outlines different strategies that have evolved for the regulation of bacterial thioredoxin genes. It also summarizes effects of thioredoxins on gene regulation and presents a recent model for a redox-dependent gene regulation that is mediated by thioredoxins.     

Intraspecific competition and high food availability are associated with insular gigantism in a lizard

Resource availability, competition, and predation commonly drive body size evolution. We assess the impact of high food availability and the consequent increased intraspecific competition, as expressed by tail injuries and cannibalism, on body size in Skyros wall lizards (Podarcis gaigeae). Lizard populations on islets surrounding Skyros (Aegean Sea) all have fewer predators and competitors than on Skyros but differ in the numbers of nesting seabirds. We predicted the following: (1) the presence of breeding seabirds (providing nutrients) will increase lizard population densities; (2) dense lizard populations will experience stronger intraspecific competition; and (3) such aggression, will be associated with larger average body size. We found a positive correlation between seabird and lizard densities. Cannibalism and tail injuries were considerably higher in dense populations. Increases in cannibalism and tail loss were associated with large body sizes. Adult cannibalism on juveniles may select for rapid growth, fuelled by high food abundance, setting thus the stage for the evolution of gigantism.     

Habitat structure is associated with the expression of carotenoid-based coloration in nestling blue tits Parus caeruleus

We investigated how the expression of carotenoid-based plumage coloration (lightness and chroma) in nestling blue tits Parus caeruleus is associated with forest structure in oak forests of central Spain. We found evidence of a reduced expression of carotenoid-based coloration in nestlings growing up in successionally young and structurally simple forest territories. Our results suggest that breast feather coloration can be used as an indicator of nestling quality because nestlings with more intense yellow plumage coloration had larger body size and stronger immune responses to the injection of phytohemagglutinin (PHA). Given the association of forest structural complexity with carotenoid-based plumage coloration, our findings suggest that variation in habitat structure may have a significant impact on forest birds in their first stages of life which has implications for forest management practices.     

北京PM2.5浓度的变化特征及其与PM10、TSP的关系

在连续2年进行累积1周同步采样的基础上,对北京市城区和居住区2个采样点环境空气中PM2.5的浓度及其时间变化特征进行了分析.PM2.5周平均浓度的变化范围为37~346靏/m3,年均浓度接近或超过PM10的二级年均标准.PM2.5浓度具有明显的季节变化特征,即冬季最高,夏季最低.2个采样点PM2.5浓度的周变化与季节变化均相似.PM2.5与PM10、TSP的比值均在冬季最高,春季最低,反映采暖燃烧源对细颗粒物的贡献较大,而沙尘天气对粗颗粒物的贡献较大;其年均值分别为55%和29%.     

Effect of sub-acute exposure to TiO2 nanoparticles on oxidative stress and histopathological changes in Juvenile Carp （Cyprinus carpio）

Increasing application of nanotechnology highlights the need to clarify and understand nanotoxicity. Mammalian and in vitro studies have raised concerns about the toxicity of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂-NPs), but there are limited data on ecotoxicity to aquatic organisms. In this work, the sub-acute toxicity of TiO₂-NPs to carp (Cyprinus carpio) was assessed. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) activities and lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels in liver, gill and brain tissues of carps varied with concentration of TiO₂-NPs suspensions and exposure time (up to 8 d). As a result, 100 and 200 mg/L TiO₂-NPs caused statistically significant decrease in SOD, CAT and POD activities and significant increase in LPO levels in tissues (P < 0.05), suggesting that the fish exposed to these two concentrations of TiO₂-NPs suffered from the oxidative stress. The extent of depletion of antioxidant enzymes activities and the elevation of LPO in the liver was the greatest, indicating that the liver might be the most susceptible organ to TiO₂-NPs exposure. In addition, carps had gill pathologies including edema and thickening of gill lamellae as well as gill filaments, and liver pathologies including necrotic and apoptosis hepatocytes after exposed to 100 and 200 mg/L TiO₂-NPs for 20 d. These results indicated a potential risk from TiO₂-NPs released into the aqueous environment.     

上海市静安区PM2.5浓度变化特征及其与PM10的关系

根据2006-2011年静安区PM2.5连续自动监测数据,通过对其浓度变化特征进行趋势性分析发现,2006-2011年静安区环境空气中PM2.5浓度呈逐步下降趋势,但浓度年均值仍超过国家环境空气质量二级标准限值.PM2.5污染季节变化特征明显,冬春较高、夏秋较低.PM10与PM2.5的回归方程为y=1.5585x+0.0108,相关系数为0.78,显著性水平为0.01.PM2.5与PM 10浓度的比值(p)主要集中在0.5-0.7之间.     

宁芜和庐枞盆地含矿岩体地球化学特征对比

宁芜和庐枞盆地是长江中下游地区重要的铁矿产区,两盆地内含矿岩体的岩石学和地球化学特征既具有一定的相似性又表现出一定的差异性。文章对两个盆地内主要含矿岩体的岩相学、主量元素、微量元素、稀土元素、Sr-Nd同位素和锆石Hf同位素等进行对比研究,以期进一步探讨两盆地中成矿岩体的差异。镜下观察结果显示宁芜和庐枞盆地主要含矿岩体具有相同的矿物组合,主量元素特征表明这些岩体具有中硅、富钾和高镁的特点,均为中—基性火成岩。与宁芜盆地含矿岩体相比,庐枞盆地含矿岩体的∑REE、∑LREE和∑HREE含量均较高,明显富集Th、U等大离子亲石元素,具有明显的Eu负异常,说明庐枞盆地含矿岩体的地壳物质较多。两个盆地含矿岩体的Sr-Nd同位素组成指示岩体均来源于富集地幔,庐枞盆地含矿岩体较低的锆石Hf同位素组成说明在岩浆侵入和演化过程中可能有更多的地壳物质加入,导致岩浆的粘稠度降低,更有利于庐枞盆地铁矿的形成。     

徐州市气象因子与空气质量和PM_（10）浓度的相关性分析

通过对徐州市空气质量及其对应的气象因子进行统计分析,得出空气质量与相对湿度、风速,降水等气象因子的关系。分析特殊气象天气出现时空气中主要污染物PM10的变化规律.得到一些初步结果,为减轻和防止污染提供参考。     

广东赤红壤,红壤重金属镉的农作物污染效应及其临界含量研究

本文通过在广东地区的盆栽试验,研究了在广东赤红壤、红壤土质条件下,土壤重金属镉对水稻和花生的污染效应,并在此基础上提出了广东地区赤红壤及红壤土的临界含量。     

Confirmation of CVS mosaicism in term placentae and high frequency of intrauterine growth retardation association with confined placental mosaicism

About 2 per cent of specimens from chorionic villus sampling (CVS) analysed either on direct preparation of cytotrophoblast cells or afterculture of mesenchymal stroma reveal confined placental mosaicism (CPM), most commonly involving chromosomal trisomy. A significantly higher rate of prenatal loss (22 per cent) as well as the presence of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) has been reported among pregnancies with CPM. To evaluate more precisely the effect of these aneuploid cell lines confined to the placenta on intrauterine fetal growth and fetal survival, we have studied 34 term placentae from pregnancies with CPM diagnosed on CVS and confirmed identical mosaicism in 17 of these placentae. There was a direct correlation between a high number of aneuploid cells present at CVS and a high likelihood of their detection in term placenta. Also, the proportion of aneuploid cells in the mosaic term placentae correlated with that observed in CVS specimens. Among 17 gestations with confirmed CPM at delivery, there were six cases of IUGR identified, five in liveborns and one associated with intrauterine death.     

Characteristic of emissive spectrum and the removal of nitric oxide in N2/O2/NO plasma with argon additive

Although the approach using non-thermal plasma (NTP) for deNOx has been studied for over 15 years,how to achieve higher removal efficiency with lower cost is still a barrier for its industrial application.In order to investigate the impact of the argon additive on the electron density,energy and the nitric oxide reduction process in plasma,the spectrum of the dielectric barrier discharge at atmospheric pressure in a coaxial reactor was measured using the monochromater with high resolution and the comparative experiments for NO reduction were carried out simultaneously in the N2/O2/NO plasma stream with and without argon,respectively.The nitrogen molecular spectrum which is attributed to the energy level transition (C3πu→B3πg ) was compared in the wavelength range 300-480 nm and the electron density and temperature were determined by the calculation based on the relative intensities and Stark broadening width of spectral lines.The spectrum results indicated that the argon additive could enhance the intensity of emissive spectrum of plasma,thus the electron concentration as well as the energy was increased,and finally prompted the ionization rate to produce active N,O and O3.The results of NO reduction showed that the NO conversion efficiency increased in the range of 10%-30% with 5% addition of argon in stream comparing with the condition without argon additive.This study will play a positive role in the industrial application of dielectric barrier discharge deNOx reactor.     

Elimination of a pollution associated with chromic acid during the electro-deposition of Cr(III) using appropriate anodic and membrane materials in a double film bath

A method using trivalent chromium has been used to replace hexavalent chromium for the electro-deposition of chromium. Using a tri-chamber bath system various anodic materials and membranes were evaluated to minimize the production of environmentally and health damaging chromic acid. By measuring the absorbance of Cr(VI) at 640 nm, the results indicate that the use of a titanium plated ruthenium (Ti-Ru) anode produces the least amount of chromic acid byproduct compared to lead-gold alloy and graphite anodes. The concentration of Cr(VI) in the immediate vicinity of the Ti-Ru anode decreased from 0.389 mg/L to 0 during a 40-min deposition period. The use of a Nafion^TM quaternary cation exchange membrane portioning the buffer and anode selectively prevented Cr(III) from entering the anode compartment whilst allowing the migration of H⁺ to maintain overall voltaic continuity. It has been demonstrated that the use of a Ti-Ru anode with a Nafion^TM membrane can eliminate the production of chromic acid associated with the electro-deposition of chromium plate thereby preventing its health damaging exposure to plant operators and preventing discharge of Cr(VI) into the environment. Addition of a surfactant improved current efficiency by 34.7%.