Molecular and physiological characterization of fluoroquinolone resistance in relation to uropathogenicity among Escherichia coli isolates isolated from Wenyu River, China

Increasing antibacterial resistance and pathogenicity in the environment is of growing concern due to its potential human risk. In the present study, 236 Escherichia coli isolates were collected from Wenyu River in China on drugless (48 isolates) and quinolone-containing plates (189 isolates). Their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined ranging from 0.125 μg mL⁻¹ to 128 μg mL⁻¹. Mutation points related to fluoroquinolone resistance were observed at S83 to L and D87 to N or Y in the GyrA subunit and S80 to R or I and E84 to G in the ParC subunit. Generally, MICs of LEV and GAT are dependent on the patterns of these mutation points. The profile with three mutation points was related to LEV-resistant E. coli isolates, and the (S83L, D87N + S80I) mutation profile was most prevalent (65.7%) in LEV-resistant isolates, while a large proportion of isolates, even those with three mutation points, were susceptive to GAT. The incidence of virulence factors in LEV-resistant isolates (44.7%, 59/132) was much higher than in nonresistant isolates (23.1%, 24/104) (χ² = 11.925, 1° of freedom, p < 0.001) indicating that fluoroquinolone-resistant E. coli would pose a potential risk. A similar distribution was also found in isolates resistant to GAT (χ² = 7.843, 1° of freedom, p = 0.0079).     

Historical change of mercury pollution in remote Yongle archipelago, South China Sea

We collected three ornithogenic coral sand sedimentary profiles from Jinyin Island, Jinqing Island and Guangjin Island of Yongle archipelago, South China Sea and reconstructed the deposition flux of anthropogenic Hg over the past 700 years in the study area. On the whole, the anthropogenic Hg flux is relatively low; it remained at a low level before the Industrial Revolution with a small peak at about 1450-1550 AD, which may record the enhanced metallurgy activity in Ming Dynasty of China. During the 20th century, the deposition flux of anthropogenic Hg increased rapidly, but two troughs occurred during the periods around 1940s and 1970s, corresponding to the economic depression caused by World War II, Civil War in China (1945-1949), and the Culture Revolution (1966-1976) in China. Since the 1970s the deposition flux of anthropogenic Hg has been persistently increasing, apparently the result of fast economic development in East and Southeast Asia countries around South China Sea.     

Toxicological effect of MPA-CdSe QDs exposure on zebrafish embryo and larvae

Cadmium selenium (CdSe) quantum dots (QDs) are semiconductor nanocrystals that hold wide range of applications and substantial production volumes. Due to unique composition and nanoscale properties, their potential toxicity to aquatic organisms has increasingly gained a great amount of interest. However, the impact of CdSe QDs exposure on zebrafish embryo and larvae remains almost unknown. Therefore, the lab study was performed to determine the developmental and behavioral toxicities to zebrafish under continuous exposure to low level CdSe QDs (0.05-31.25 mg L⁻¹) coated with mercaptopropionic acid (MPA). The results showed MPA-CdSe exposure from embryo to larvae stage affected overall fitness. Our findings for the first time revealed that: (1) The 120 h LC₅₀ of MPA-CdSe for zebrafish was 1.98 mg L⁻¹; (2) embryos exposed to MPA-CdSe resulted in malformations incidence and lower hatch rate; (3) abnormal vascular of FLI-1 transgenic zebrafish larvae appeared after exposure to MPA-CdSe including vascular junction, bifurcation, crossing and particle appearance; (4) larvae behavior assessment showed during MPA-CdSe exposure a rapid transition from light-to-dark elicited a similar, brief burst and a higher basal swimming rate; (5) MPA-CdSe induced embryos cell apoptosis in the head and tail region. Results of the observations provide a basic understanding of MPA-CdSe toxicity to aquatic organisms and suggest the need for additional research to identify the toxicological mechanism.     

Harvesting of Chlorella sp. using hollow fiber ultrafiltration

Introduction

The suitability of the application of ultrafiltration (UF) to harvest Chlorella sp. from the culture medium was examined. We investigated the effects of two improved UF system, forward air?Cwater flushing and backwash with permeate, on the concentration process.

Materials and methods

Backwash with permeate was selected as an optimization of the improved UF system, which was more effective for permeate flux recovery. Moreover, the hollow fiber UF system by adding periodical backwash with permeate was examined for Chlorella sp. harvesting.

Results and discussion

It was found that Chlorella sp. could be concentrated with high recovery in a lab-scale experiment. An overall algal biomass recovery of above 90% was achieved when the volume concentration factor was 10. For an original biomass of 1.3?±?0.05?g/L, 1?min backwash followed by 20?min forward concentrating was more effective, which resulted in a recovery of 94% and a high average flux of 30.3?L/m²/h. In addition, the algal recovery was highly correlated to the volume concentration factor and the initial biomass. A high concentration factor or a high initial biomass resulted in a low biomass recovery.     

不同粒径零价铁（ZVI）对污水污泥H_2S和CH_4释放速率的影响

考察了不同粒径零价铁（ZVI）,包括200目普通铁粉（200m-ZVI）、800目超细铁粉（800m-ZVI）和纳米铁粉（nZVI,粒径=20 nm）,对污水污泥的硫化氢和甲烷释放速率的影响。研究发现：（1）在22 d内,添加0.1%的200m-ZVI使污泥的硫化氢释放速率提高48.0%,而添加0.1%的800-ZVI和nZVI,则使污泥的硫化氢释放速率分别降低33.1%和77.1%;（2）不同粒径ZVI均可以提高污泥沼气中的甲烷浓度,且依次为nZVI〉800m-ZVI〉200m-ZVI;（3）在23 d内,添加0.1%的200m-ZVI和nZVI使污泥的甲烷累计产生量分别提高了15.5%和40.6%,而添加0.1%800m-ZVI则使甲烷产生量降低了12.5%。nZVI可以有效控制污泥的硫化氢释放,并显著提升污泥在厌氧发酵过程的产甲烷速率。     

Properties of alkali-activated systems with stone powder sludge

This article investigates the effects of stone powder sludge on the microstructure and strength development of alkali-activated fly ash and blast furnace slag mixes. Stone powder sludge produced from a crushed aggregate factory was used to replace fly ash and granulated blast furnace slag at replacement ratios of 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% by mass. The unit weight and compressive strength of the samples were measured, and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses were performed. The test results indicated that the compressive strength of alkali-activated blast furnace slag mixes using stone powder sludge was higher than that of the alkali-activated blast furnace slag control mix, but the compressive strength of alkali-activated fly ash mixes decreased with increasing replacement ratio of stone powder sludge. Microscopy results indicated that for alkaliactivated blast furnace slag samples, broken surfaces were more evident than for the alkali-activated fly ash samples. For all XRD diagrams, broad and diffuse peaks were observed around 2θ = 35° (d = 2.96–3.03 Å), implying amorphous or short-ordering structure phases.     

Zr—Fe双组分复合除砷吸附剂的优化制备及性能评价

实验发现,铁氧化物或铁的羟基氧化物对As（V）有较好的吸附性能,而锆氧化物或锆水合氧化物则对As（Ⅲ）有优异的吸附选择性,但其使用的pH通常要在〉9的条件下。通过简单的共沉淀法制备了Zr-Fe双组分复合吸附剂,在制备过程中通过优化制备条件如：沉淀剂浓度、金属离子总浓度、金属离子配比、反应温度、反应时间及吸附剂价格等因素,最终合成出了对As（V）和As（Ⅲ）都具有良好吸附能力的吸附剂。这种吸附剂在中性条件下对As（V）和As（Ⅲ）的最大吸附量为62mg／g和118mg／g。     

Carbon dioxide and methane fluxes in the littoral zones of two lakes,east Antarctica

During the summertime of 2007/2008, carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) fluxes across air–water interface were investigated in the littoral zones of Lake Mochou and Lake Tuanjie, east Antarctica, using a static chamber technique. The mean fluxes of CO₂ and CH₄ were ?70.8 mgCO₂ m^?2 h^?1 and 144.6 μgCH₄ m^?2 h^?1, respectively, in the littoral zone of Lake Mochou; The mean fluxes were ?36.9 mgCO₂ m^?2 h^?1 and 109.8 μgCH₄ m^?2 h^?1, respectively, in the littoral zone of Lake Tuanjie. Their fluxes showed large temporal and spatial dynamics. The CO₂ fluxes showed a significantly negative correlation with daily total radiation (DTR) and a weakly negative correlation with air temperature and water temperature, indicating that sunlight intensity controlled the magnitude of CO₂ fluxes from the open lakes. The CH₄ fluxes significantly correlated with local air temperature, water table and total dissolved solids (TDS), indicating that they were the predominant factors influencing CH₄ fluxes. Summertime CO₂ budgets in the littoral zones of Lake Mochou and Lake Tuanjie were estimated to be ?152.9 gCO₂ m^?2 and ?79.7 gCO₂ m^?2, respectively, and net CH₄ emissions were estimated to be 312.3 mgCH₄ m^?2 and 237.2 mgCH₄ m^?2, respectively. Our results show that shallow, open, alga-rich lakes might be strong summertime CO₂ absorbers and small CH₄ emitters during the open water in coastal Antarctica.     

Facile, effective, and environment-friendly degradation of sulfamonomethoxine in aqueous solution with the aid of a UV/Oxone oxidative process

The degradation of sulfamonomethoxine (SMM) in the aqueous environment by the combination of UV illumination and Oxone has been studied. Experimental results indicated that the UV illumination can effectively activate Oxone to produce sulfate-free radicals (SO₄ ^??). When 10 mmol L^?1 Oxone was added, 96.78 % removal of SMM (5 mg L^?1) was achieved within 90 min. Mineralization of SMM was investigated by measuring the total organic carbon, which decreased by 89.01 % after 90 min reaction. Six intermediate compounds generated during the SMM degradation were identified with the aid of liquid chromatography and mass spectroscopy, combined with proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. A general reaction pathway for the degradation of SMM was proposed, where the presence of SO₄ ^?? remained crucial during the degradation process.     

Hexabromocyclododecanes in limnic and marine organisms and terrestrial plants from Tianjin,China: Diastereomer- and enantiomer-specific profiles,biomagnification, and human exposure

To interpret the distribution of hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) in various organisms, we measured the concentrations and diastereomer and enantiomer profiles of HBCDs in 21 different species of limnic and marine cohorts from Tianjin, China. The concentration ranges of HBCDs in limnic and marine organisms were 64.3–1111 ng g⁻¹ lw and 85.5–989 ng g⁻¹ lw, respectively. Living habitat and feeding habits had important impacts on HBCD diastereomer distribution. Most of the species appeared to preferentially select (+)-α-, (−)-β- and (−)-γ-HBCD. There is a tendency that the total and α-HBCDs were magnified as trophic level increased with trophic magnification factors (TMFs) around 2. The concentrations of HBCDs in the limnic and marine fishes were highest in the liver, followed by the gill, skin, and muscle. In terrestrial plants, the highest concentrations of HBCDs were observed in the leaf, followed by the root and the rhizosphere soil. Plants showed enantioselectivity for HBCD enantiomers, which varied with plant species and organs (leaf vs. root) of the same plant. Higher estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of HBCDs were observed from fish than from wheat.