Interlaboratory evaluation of endotoxin analyses in agricultural dusts--comparison of LAL assay and mass spectrometry

Endotoxin exposure is associated with wheeze and asthma morbidity, while early life exposure may reduce risk of allergy and asthma. Unfortunately, it is difficult to compare endotoxin results from different laboratories and environments. We undertook this study to determine if lipopolysaccharide (LPS) extraction efficiency could account for differences among laboratories. We generated and collected aerosols from chicken and swine barns, and corn processing. We randomly allocated side-by-side filter samples to five laboratories for Limulus assay of endotoxin. Lyophilized aliquots of filter extracts were analyzed for 3-hydroxy fatty acids (3-OHFAs) as a marker of LPS using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. There were significant differences in endotoxin assay and GC-MS (LPS) results between laboratories for all dust types (p < 0.01). Patterns of differences between labs varied by dust type. Relationships between assay and GC/MS results also depended on dust type. The percentages of individual 3-OHFA chain lengths varied across labs (p < 0.0001) suggesting that each lab recovered a different fraction of the LPS available. The presence of large amounts of particle associated LPS and absence of a freezing thawing cycle were associated with lower correlations between LPS and bioactivity, consistent with an absence of Limulus response to cell-bound endotoxin. These data suggest that extraction methods affect endotoxin measurements. The LAL methods may be most suitable when comparing exposures within similar environments; GC-MS offers additional information helpful in optimizing sample treatment and extraction. GC-MS may be of use when comparing across heterogeneous environments and should be considered for inclusion in future studies of human health outcomes.     

赤潮研究的现状与展望

赤潮已成为一种严重的海洋灾害 ,引起沿海国家和地区的重视 ,并成为研究的热点。文章从赤潮发生的机理、赤潮管理与减灾等方面论述了赤潮研究的现状 ,并提出今后研究的重点。     

Study of Meteorological Aspects and Urban Concentration of SO2 in Atmospheric Environment of La Plata, Argentina

This article presents and discusses SO₂ (ppbv) concentration measurements combined with meteorological data (mainly wind speed and direction) for a five-year campaign (1996 to 2000), in a site near an oil refinery plant close to the city of La Plata and surroundings (aprox. 740.000 inh.), considered one of the six most affected cities by air pollution in the country. Since there is no monitoring network in the area, the obtained results should be considered as medium term accumulated data that enables to determine trends by analyzing together gas concentrations and meteorological parameters. Preliminary characterization of the behaviour of the predominant winds of the region in relation with potential atmospheric gas pollutants from seasonal wind roses is possible to carry out from the data. These results are complemented with monthly averaged SO₂ measurements. In particular, for year 2000, pollutant roses were determined which enable predictions about contamination emission sources. As a general result we can state that there is a clear increase in annual SO₂ concentration and that the selected site should be considered as a key site for future survey monitoring network deployment. Annual SO₂ average concentration and prevailing seasonal winds determined in this work, together with the potential health impact of SO₂ reveals the need for a comprehensive and systematic study involving particulate matter an other basic pollutant gases.     

A dynamic statistical experiment for atmospheric interactions

Interactions among atmospheric parameters exist at different scales. The pristine approach for observational or model data analysis involves changing the input parameters one at a time (OAT) and studying the effect on the system. Limitations of this approach for atmospheric applications are discussed. A fractional factorial (FF) based study is evolved and a methodology is outlined involving dynamic graphical analysis. Observational data from the FIFE and HAPEX‐MOBILHY experiments are utilized with a vegetation and soil moisture scheme dynamically coupled in a planetary boundary layer model to demonstrate the robustness of this approach. Both low‐resolution and high‐resolution designs are considered. Various aspects of the vegetation‐atmosphere interactions are delineated. Results obtained from the interaction‐based FF approach differ considerably from the earlier OAT‐type studies.     

内蒙古某灌域表层土壤六氯环己烷空间分布特征及影响因素

为修复灌区内土壤有机氯农药污染，降低六氯环己烷对土壤环境的危害，对内蒙古某灌域表层土壤进行采样，利用气相色谱测定50个土壤样品中六氯环己烷及其异构体的含量，并利用ArcGIS空间分析技术确定表层土壤中六氯环己烷的分布状况。样本中六氯环己烷的检出率为96%，各样本中六氯环己烷的浓度范围为未检出~23.0 ng/g，平均浓度为4.4 ng/g。4种异构体含量平均值顺序为γ-六氯环己烷>δ-六氯环己烷>β-六氯环己烷>α-六氯环己烷。灌域东北部和西南部残留浓度较高，并由这2个方向向中部地区逐渐递减，表层土壤中的六氯环己烷分布受土壤黏粒量、不同种植种类和灌溉水源的影响较大。虽受人类耕作的影响，但表层土壤中的六氯环己烷污染水平相对较低。     

Kinetics of continuous biodegradation of pesticide organic wastewater by activated carbon-activated sludge

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一种特殊形状制件的成形工艺

对弹匣前口板这种特殊形状制件成形工艺进行了讨论,找到了一种具有较高材料利用率,较高生产效率及简便易行的成形方法.     

A metal-OH group modification strategy to prepare highly-hydrophobic MIL-53-Al for efficient acetone capture under humid conditions

A series of highly-hydrophobic MIL-53-Al (MIL = Materials of Institut Lavoisier) frameworks synthesized via decoration of the Al-OH groups by alkyl phosphonic acid were developed as adsorbents for removing acetone from humid gas streams. The newly prepared materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), N₂ adsorption-desorption and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Their adsorption behaviors toward acetone vapor under dry and wet conditions were studied subsequently. Results showed that alkyl phosphonic acid was successfully grafted into MIL-53-Al skeleton through coordinating interaction with Al³⁺ generating [email protected]_x (x = 12, 14, 18). The [email protected]_x exhibited similar crystal structure and thermal stability to parent MIL-53-Al. Furthermore, the modified materials showed significantly enhanced hydrophobicity. The water vapor uptake of [email protected]₁₄ decreased by 72.55% at 75% relative humidity (RH). Dynamic adsorption experiments demonstrated that water vapor had almost no effect on the acetone adsorption performance of [email protected]₁₄. Under the condition of 90% RH, the acetone adsorption capacity of [email protected]₁₄ was 102.98% higher than that of MIL-53-Al. Notably, [email protected]₁₄ presented excellent adsorption reversibility and regeneration performance in 10 adsorption-desorption cycles. Taken together, the strategy of metal-OH group modification is an attractive way to improve the acetone adsorption performance over metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) under humid conditions. Besides, [email protected]₁₄ would be deemed as a promising candidate for capturing acetone in high moisture environment.     

Quantitative structure - activity study on the reductivedehalogenation potency of the halogenated aromatics

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中国华北地区冬季大气污染物航空测量(Ⅰ)——空中气态污染物污染特征研究

为掌握致酸大气污染物ＳＯ２ 和ＮＯｘ 的空间浓度分布，并探讨上述污染物扩散、迁移和传输规律，进而研究其在酸性降水形成过程中的作用，在“八五”期间酸性降水的研究中，针对中国华北地区城市和工业集中以及ＳＯ２ 和ＮＯｘ 等酸性大气污染物排放量大的特点，以石家庄及其以东地区为飞行区域，进行了华北地区冬季空中ＳＯ２ 和ＮＯｘ 污染特征的航空测量。通过测定发现在华北地区１－５ ｋｍ 左右的空中存在着ＳＯ２ 和ＮＯｘ 高浓度污染空域，同时ＳＯ２ 存在着高浓度汇集区